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Blog
Transportation
MTA’s New Capital Plan Not on Track with Need for Better Service
June 15, 2017
The MTA's revised capital plan adds $2.8 billion investments, but the new money and other changes are not wholly aligned with what is needed to get the trains running on time
Report
Transportation
Working in the Dark
Implementation of the MTA's Capital Plan
October 20, 2009
This report analyzes the MTA’s effectiveness at managing its five-year capital plans. It does so by examining the capital projects scheduled by the MTA for work in the three-year period from January 2005 to December 2007.
Blog
Transportation
Five Noteworthy Changes in the MTA's Financial Plan
March 15, 2017
The MTA's modified financial plan include 5 noteworthy changes which have the combined impact of slightly worsening the agency’s fiscal outlook.
Report
Capital Spending
Three Ways to Improve the Port Authority's Capital Plan
February 16, 2017
Despite an increase in transparency and accountability, the updated plan remains deficient in three important ways.
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.
Blog
Transportation
More Than Enough Problems
The MTA 2018 Final Proposed Budget and Four-year Financial Plan
November 27, 2017
There are unanswered questions about the MTA's 2018 budget and $1.5 billion Subway Action Plan.
Report
Transportation
Bumpy Road
Transportation Capital Planning in New York State
August 21, 2017
What the State should do to ensure its transportation investment is well-targeted and strategic.
Report
Transportation
4 Things You Should Know About the MTA's Commuter Railroads
April 18, 2018
The Long Island Rail Road is much more inefficient than Metro-North. Here's why.
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.
Report
Transportation
Getting Back on Track
Replacing and Repairing Subway Cars Will Be Expensive and Take More Than a Decade
July 18, 2018
Decisions to redirect capital dollars to other priorities and stretch inspection and maintenance cycles contributed to the decline in subway reliability, and challenges lay ahead for plans to purchase 3,600 new subway cars and retrofit 1,200 existing cars.
Blog
Transportation
Is the Enhanced Station Initiative a Good Idea?
July 20, 2017
Is the enhancement of 32 stations at a cost of nearly $1 billion worth the trade-off against other capital needs?
Blog
Transportation
“Parity” for State Transportation Investments
A Misguided Misnomer
March 09, 2017
Do the State's transportation and transit investments really achieve "parity" between the DOT and the MTA? They don't -- and they shouldn't.
Blog
Transportation
Welcome Back, Joe Lhota!
June 26, 2017
Joe Lhota returns as Chairman of the MTA. Much has occurred since Lhota last chaired the MTA, and the following charts illustrate the agency’s current plight.
Report
Transportation
NYS Infrastructure Policy
A Background Paper for the CBC Conference on The Most Important Fiscal and Economic Issues Facing New York State
December 13, 2018
This paper was prepared by HR&A Advisors as a background paper for the December 2018 CBC Conference on most important fiscal and economic issues facing New York State. The paper provides recommendations for how NYS should prioritize, fund, and deliver key infrastructure investments.
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.
Report
Economic Development
Managing Economic Development Programs in New York City
An Assessment of Progress
January 02, 2018
The de Blasio administration has made some progress on 5 CBC recommendations made prior to the start of Mayor de Blasio’s first term, but more work is needed to make EDC more effective.
Report
Economic Development
Tax Increment Financing: A Primer
December 05, 2017
This report provides an overview of TIF and a five-point checklist drawn from lessons learned from past projects to help identify potential TIF projects.
Report
City Budget
Short-term Goals for Long-term Debt
Time to Prioritize Reducing New York City’s Liabilities
September 18, 2018
Paying down the City's debts should be a greater priority.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Six-Figure Civil Servants
Average Compensation Cost Of New York City Public Employees
January 08, 2009
In fiscal year 2008, the average compensation cost per New York City full-time employee was $106,743; this figure represents a system out of sync with the private sector and an opportunity to limit the growth of the City’s liability in the future while continuing to provide fair and adequate compensation to the City’s employees. Three factors that have driven the growth in compensation among City employees are: 1) Pay increases are directly attributable to contract settlements with unions; 2) More generous terms of the health insurance benefits offered by the City, as compared to the private sector and other state and local governments; and 3) The benefit retirement plans offered by the City that lock in the City’s future payouts to retirees based on the employee’s pay, years of employment and age at retirement among other factors. CBC offers three recommendations in response to these factors.
Report
Pensions & Benefits
Union-Administered Benefit Funds
Getting More Out Of A Billion Dollar Taxpayer Contribution
February 08, 2018
NYC taxpayers are projected to contribute $1.1 billion to 108 union-administered benefit funds. Better management, oversight, and consolidation can create more than $160 million in savings for the City and improve benefits for members.