Today is a key advocacy day for transit riders statewide as legislators in Albany are in the final stages of putting together their one house budget bills, and the New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA) is asking every transit stakeholder to make their support for transit known. This is a critical time to reach out to State Senators and Assemblymembers and demand an increase to state transit operating assistance (STOA) and capital funding for both upstate and downstate transit systems, which face a collective capital need of $33 billion over the next five years. Governor Cuomo’s Executive budget keeps STOA flat and proposes little new capital funding for these systems, despite increased ridership across the state.
NYPTA asks that you specifically urge them to support:
- $25 million increase in STOA for upstate transit systems in 2015-16.
- $17.4 million increase in STOA to downstate suburban county transit systems in 2015-16.
- $100 million in capital funding to address transit infrastructure needs for both upstate and downstate suburban county transit in 2015-16.
- Fully fund the 5 year capital program for the MTA and for all other transit systems.
NYPTA’s 2015-16 state budget recommendations:
- Increase state transit operating aid to upstate transit systems by $25 million and to downstate suburban county systems by $17.4 million.
- Provide $100 million in state capital funding for the first year of the upstate and downstate suburban capital program.
- Develop a plan to fund the 5-year statewide infrastructure needs of the MTA and all other transit systems.
- Provide additional transition funding from non-transportation resources to assist rural transit systems in dealing with the impacts of state Medicaid transportation changes.
For more information, please contact Bob Zerrillo, NYPTA Policy Director, at rzerrillo@nytransit.org or 518-434-9060; and Bob Reid, Legislative Counsel for Reid McNally & Savage at bobr@lobbywr.com or 518-465‑7330.
Should the transit rider pay the same total percentage of trip costs that the automobile riders do? Does the transit rider pay as much? This includes roadway/track costs, parking/station/bus stop costs, insurance, fuel, vehicle purchase or lease, and vehicle maintenance. From the postings on various transit sites and newsgroups, I get the distinct impression the transit rider does not. The vehicles are purchased from taxes, not the fare box. In many states the transit buses do not pay fuel excise tax which at least makes a contribution to the cost of roads. Most capital costs are covered by the taxpayer for transit. Even under these circumstances transit can’t even cover the equivalent of fuel, insurance, vehicle maintenance and operator cost from the farebox, all costs paid for directly by the motorist and his/her passengers.