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Blog
Transportation
Three Takeaways from the MTA's Financial Plan
July 2018 Update
August 13, 2018
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its 2019 Preliminary Budget and four-year financial plan last month. Here are three important takeaways.
Letter
Capital Spending
CBC Urges Governor to Sign A4880/S1673 to Improve Capital Planning
A Letter to the Governor
November 11, 2019
The CBC recommends that the Governor sign A4880/S1673, which would improve capital planning for transportation infrastructure in New York State.
Letter
Transportation
Mandatory Debarment of MTA Contractors is Bad Policy and Must be Changed
A Letter to the MTA Board
December 12, 2019
We ask that the MTA Board work with MTA staff to revise the regulations to not mandate automatic debarment.
Letter
Transportation
MTA Should Reconsider Proposed Rule Regarding Debarment
Comment on Rule I.D. No. MTA-23-19-00006-EP
August 02, 2019
CBC urges the MTA to reconsider the proposed rule regarding five-year debarment of contractors.
Blog
Transportation
Watch the (MTA Budget) Gap!
Operating Budget Is Worse Than It Appears
August 07, 2019
The MTA's 2020 Preliminary Budget and four-year financial plan reveals an alarming fiscal outlook.
Letter
Transportation
Letter from 18 Groups Asking for Transparency of MTA Funded “Member Items”
August 18, 2019
Transparency of outer borough transit account and MTA Capital Program “Set-Aside” funds
Letter
Transportation
Hold Public Confirmation Hearings for MTA Vacancies
A Letter to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
February 20, 2019
We write to ask that the State Senate conduct confirmation processes for appointees to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) through public hearings.
Blog
Public Workforce
The High Cost of the MTA’s New Police Officers
September 25, 2019
The MTA has committed to hiring 500 new police officers to address quality of life concerns, but it is necessary to understand this strategy comes at a cost.
Blog
Taxes
Follow the Money
The MTA’s New Revenues
April 05, 2019
The NYS Adopted FY 2020 Budget directs three revenue sources to support the MTA. This blog clarifies what the revenue streams are and how they will flow to the lockbox.
Letter
Transportation
The MTA Needs to Show How it will Fund the Full Cost of 581 New Police Officers
October 18, 2019
Without new funding or major savings in other areas, the proposed increase in the MTA police force will significantly increase the MTA’s operating deficit.
Letter
Transportation
CBC Encourages MTA to Link Fares to Operating Expenses; Explore Peak Pricing
September 30, 2010
The CBC seeks to stress two points: 1) the fare increases to be approved for January 2011 and proposed for January 2013 should move toward establishing a long-term policy to cover half of operating expenses with fare revenue, and 2) the MTA should explore the feasibility of incorporating the practice of “peak pricing" for subways and buses.
Blog
Transportation
Tsk-tsk on Governor’s TIF Proposal
February 02, 2018
The FY 2019 Executive Budget proposed to allow the MTA to create tax increment financing districts in NYC to raise revenue for capital improvements. Though TIFs can play a useful role, the proposal is flawed.
Op Ed
Transportation
Latest value capture proposal could harm NYC
City taxes should not be diverted to the MTA without local input
March 22, 2018
While value capture makes sense in theory, any such arrangement should be tailored to specific projects and circumstances - with the agreement of the City.
Letter
Capital Spending
City Should Evaluate Project Labor Agreements
Letter to Mayor de Blasio
July 05, 2018
With the Capital Commitment Plan now topping $82 billion, it is more important than ever to find ways to reduce costs and speed up project delivery.
Op Ed
Transportation
Want better service?
Raise the fare: It would be a mistake to link price increases to improved performance
January 24, 2019
Exasperated straphangers are expressing frustration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plans to raise fares when, they say, service shows little sign of improvement.
Blog
Economic Development
Breaking Down the Amazon HQ2 Deal:
Facts and Takeaways
November 21, 2018
Amazon has committed to creating 25,000 full-time high-paying jobs over ten years, investing approximately $2.5 billion, and building 4 million square feet of office space at its new headquarters in Long Island City, with the possibility of expanding to 8 million square feet and 40,000 jobs. To facilitate this investment, Amazon will receive benefits of up to $1.7 billion from New York State and $1.8 billion from New York City. This blog explains the incentive package provided by the State and City and offers five takeaways about the deal and its lessons for future economic development policy.
Blog
Transportation
Principles for Congestion Pricing
February 13, 2019
Motorists should pay a greater share of the costs of mass transit to offset the negative impacts of auto use. CBC recommends five principles to guide the crafting of a congestion pricing program
Blog
Economic Development
End the Empire Zones Program and Adopt Excelsior
March 24, 2010
Explains why Empire Zones were ineffective and argues in favor of the improved features of Excelsior tax credits.
Blog
Pensions & Benefits
Not so sweet
June 20, 2010
While the State and local governments struggle to pay for current salaries and fringe benefits of public employees and to fully fund the pension system for retirees - resorting to a "borrowing" scheme to stretch out required payments - the State Legislature has remained undeterred in introducing and acting upon bills that would add even more costs in the 2010 session.
Op Ed
Transportation
Four years after 'Bridgegate,' Port's fiefdoms are coming back
Crain's New York Business
May 30, 2018
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a crucial agency, but it is badly governed and in need of reform.