Assembly Budget Makes $12.8 Billion Investment In Transportation Infrastructure Across New York State

Speaker Carl Heastie, Transportation Chair William B. Magnarelli and Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Chair Amy Paulin today announced that the Assembly State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2019-20 Budget will invest a new $12.8 billion in the state’s transportation network, while signaling its commitment to establishing a sustainable, dedicated funding source for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The plan outlines principles to guide this discussion.

“New York has one of the hardest working transportation networks in the world, and the Assembly Majority is committed to getting communities the funding they need, whether that’s for snow removal after a particularly bad storm or for bridge repairs,” Speaker Heastie said. “Our budget lays the groundwork to give the MTA a sustainable source of revenue, while ensuring that our roads and bridges get the maintenance they need to keep New Yorkers moving safely and efficiently.”

“New York’s transportation infrastructure is in desperate need of maintenance – from the roads and bridges Upstate to the New York City subway,” Assemblymember Magnarelli said. “Our budget makes critical investments that will help people get where they need to go, whether they live and work here, or are one of the millions of visitors that come to our great state every year.”

“The solutions offered in our budget are comprehensive and responsive to the challenges of the moment,” Assemblymember Paulin said. “Without proper investment and improvements, today’s crisis would be tomorrow’s catastrophe. Our plan will create a sustainable funding stream to help the MTA make the critical infrastructure investments it needs to restore confidence and reliability.”

The Assembly remains committed to discussing an MTA financing package and will be guided by principles which include:

• Recognizing the MTA requires a long-term sustainable source of revenue, dedicated to bringing the subway, bus and commuter rail systems into a state of good repair, while also increasing accessibility and capacity;
• A meaningful reduction in congestion within the Central Business District (CBD) of Manhattan, accompanied by MTA operational reforms;
• Including offsets for New York residents paying a toll before entering the CBD, regardless of their point of entry into Manhattan; and
• Addressing transit inequities by supporting new strategies to improve service in transit deserts and making investments to improve service frequency and connectivity on the commuter lines.

Across the state, communities struggle with aging transportation infrastructure in need of upkeep and repairs. To help maintain the state’s roads, bridges and highways, the Assembly Budget includes:

• $503 million for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs), which includes $65 million for extreme weather recovery;
• $104.5 million in non-MTA transit capital funding, which reflects a $20 million increase above the executive proposal; and
• $39.7 million for the Marchiselli Program, which provides a local match to federal funds for local highway and bridge capital projects.

The Assembly also provides $350 million to non-MTA downstate transit systems and $226.5 million to upstate transit systems, which includes an increase of $8.8 million above the executive proposal.