Photo Courtesy of Riders Alliance
Groups rallied near Grand Central Terminal on Thursday, urging Gov. Cuomo to protect transit funding by signing the transit lockbox bill.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A varied coalition of labor, business, transit, environmental, civil rights, social justice and government accountability groups on Thursday urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the transit lockbox bill, which would prohibit funds raised to support public transportation systems from being diverted towards another purpose unless a statute is enacted to authorize such a diversion.
Unanimously approved earlier this year by the State Senate and Assembly, the measure promotes fiscal transparency and public accountability; additionally, the transit lockbox bill requires the State budget director to issue a “diversion impact statement” detailing how the diversion of funds would impact riders in the form of changes to transit service, safety, and maintenance.
The call for Cuomo’s signature comes at a critical juncture for public transportation in the Big Apple. Last week, MTA New York City Transit Authority President Andy Byford touted his Fast Forward Plan to turn around the ailing subway and bus systems.
“But it won’t be cheap and it won’t be easy,” he cautioned. “It’s a comprehensive modernization from top to bottom.”
Fast Forward is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars. In that context, the coalition noted on Thursday, the demand of the approval of the transit lockbox legislation serves as a reminder that only the State can create, sustain and protect the long-term sources of revenue that will be required to make a Byford’s transit rescue plan a reality.
“By retaining these funds for the system, we stabilize fares and protect funding for the system’s operation,” the Assembly wrote regarding justification of the lockbox bill.
The coalition, which included representatives from Reinvent Albany, the Riders Alliance, Amalgamated Transit Union, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers District of 32BJ/SEIU, AARP, General Contractors Association, Regional Plan Association, Environmental Advocates and dozens of other organizations, pointed out that New York “has a history of raiding dedicated transit funds and shady budget maneuvers involving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.” In 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the State diverted a total of $391.5 million from MTA funds to the State’s general fund. In 2017, the state reduced its promised reimbursement to the MTA, made in exchange for a prior cut in a dedicated MTA tax, by $65 million. The State has also promised but not yet delivered $7.3 billion to fund the MTA’s current $33.2 billion Fiscal Year 2015-2019 capital improvement plan.
It should be noted that in 2013 both houses of the Legislature voted for the transit lockbox bill, but Cuomo vetoed it.
