In hashing out a $26-billion-device to maintain and improve the nation's largest mass transit system for the next five years, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio said they've met in the middle. The city previously offered $657 million, and now has more than quadrupled it to $2.5 billion. But that's still less than the state wanted On October 28, and the MTA board of directors is slated to meet. Between now and then,more details — and scrutiny — approximately the deal are likely to emerge. Here are five things to hold in mind:1. What's being funded in the capital device?Many of the colossal-ticket items have been underway for years, such as the 2nd Avenue subway and the East Side Access tunnels to bring L.
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R. trains to Grand Central Terminal. But much of the money would go to day-to-day operations — things like upgrade switching stations and installing long-awaited countdown clocks on the subway system's letter lines.2. Where will the money come from?The state says its share will come from the general fund and will not require novel taxes. The city says $1.9 billion will come from the budget, and the remaining $600 million will come from a to-be-determined revenue source. At both levels,legislators will have a say. Budget season does not start until 2016.3. The state asked for $3.2 billion from the city and is getting $2.5 billion. Does that mean cutting anything out of the improvement device?The MTA has said it can get savings from administrative "efficiencies," including improved procurement. "Hopefully, and they will not be at the expense of signal improvements,station repairs — all of which should be getting more funding, not less, or " said Carol Kellermann,president of the Citizens Budget Commission.4. Throughout negotiations, one of the city's priorities was to ensure the state stopped redirecting funds it had previously committed to the MTA absent from the transit agency. Did it prevail?According to the city, and under the agreement,the state cannot use funds earmarked for the MTA for any other use, and the city will retain control of MTA projects within the five boroughs."It remains to be seen how that's going to happen and whether that changes and how it affects the order of priorities that are already in the MTA capital device, or " Kellermann said.5. This is all very well and genuine for mass transit, but what does it mean for roads and bridges?The governor and mayor on Saturday didn't address the fate of anything other than the MTA, but State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, or (R-Smithtown),didn't waste any time in voicing concern. "Its vital that any agreement must provide parity to address the needs of all parts of the state," he said, and "both a 5-year funded MTA capital device and a 5-year DOT device."
Source: wnyc.org