that had been included in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget.
If the Republican plan is approved, that will mean much-need work on public transit like station repairs, installing new signals, lights and escalators and purchasing modern equipment will be threatened.
As the state budget documents note, the MTA’s debt limit is usually raised once for every five-year capital plan: It was raised in 2000, 2006, and 2010. This increase, however, is the second for the 2010-2014 program.
All told, the MTA’s debt ceiling will have swelled by $13 billion to accommodate all the borrowing brought on by the state’s unwillingness to fund transit.
The MTA is in terrible disrepair, and as a New York City public transit commuter, what do you think?
If the GOP’s plan to not fund transit passes in this year’s budget, are you willing to accept another fare increase to pay for these much-needed capital improvements, or would you rather keep the fare as-is, and live with the mass transit system's current disrepair until the state legislature approves an increase?
Take our poll, and tell us what you think in the comments.
