Worried about transit’s funding outlook in 2011, today over two dozen groups sent a letter to Governor-elect Cuomo urging his administration against raiding money from transit’s dedicated pot of money. Projections for a $9.2 billion state budget deficit beginning April 2011 are sending tremors throughout the transit, environmental, labor, construction, good government, and policy community who are concerned that transit funding will be cut again in 2011.

In 2010, the NYS Legislature took $160 million away from transit in an unprecedented action to help plug this year’s budget hole. The worst service cuts in transit history were a subsequent result.  With transit revenue coming in less than anticipated (dedicated transit funds came in $563 million short in 2010), the groups want to deliver a unified plea that transit is in jeopardy and needs this dedicated revenue.