Borelli, Golden Call on Mayor De Blasio to Increase Mta Capital Plan Budget Contributions to Meet Inflation

New York- Assemblyman Joe Borelli (South Shore – R,C,I) and State Senator Marty Golden (Brooklyn – R,C,I) are calling on Mayor de Blasio to adjust for inflation the City’s contributions to the MTA Capital Plan Budget. The current annual contribution from New York City is only about $100 million and, as Borelli and Golden have noted, is lower than it was in 1982.

Mayor de Blasio was in Albany earlier this month and had indicated that the city would like to see the state make larger contributions to the capital plan budget to help close a multi-billion dollar funding gap. However, as Assemblyman Borelli and Senator Golden have pointed out, New York State has contributed over $250 million each year for the last 3 years, more than double the City’s contribution.

“The vast majority of beneficiaries of capital budget plan funding, on NYCTA subways and buses, on the Staten Island Railway, and motorists using the MTA’s bridges and tunnels are New York City residents,” said Borelli. “To request more of the State would be ignoring the substantial inequality in funding that has existed for decades. City funding needs to catch up to inflation, our transportation system needs it.”

From 1982-1986 New York City contributed about $136 million each year to the capital plan budget; if the City was just keeping pace with inflation, it would currently be contributing roughly $360 million a year, or enough to operate the entire Staten Island Railway for a decade.

Senator Martin Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) stated, "The time for the City of New York to invest more in the MTA subways and buses, that transport millions throughout the five boroughs each day, is now. It is rather alarming that New York City is contributing less to the MTA today then in the year 1982. I think nothing from more than twenty-three years ago has avoided the cost of inflation except this financial contribution, and there is no denying that our transit system can use the additional funding. We urge Mayor de Blasio to increase funding in the next City budget."