MTA Chief Vows to Preserve Funding of Five-Year Capital Plan, During New York Building Congress Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon Forum

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder vowed to protect the MTA’s capital program and move ahead with critical expansion projects, during a January 28 address before the New York Building Congress Annual Membership Meeting and Construction Industry Luncheon Forum at the Mandarin Oriental.

“I believe that the capital program is in greater peril than at any time in the past 30 years,” Mr. Walder said.  “Last spring, you joined us in the fight for a critical rescue package. But as you know, the legislation passed in May only funds the first two years of the five-year plan.  And since then, things have only gotten worse.  The State is in the worst fiscal crisis in memory, and no one is talking about filling the capital plan’s $10 billion gap.”

In fact, Mr. Walder warned of growing cries from around the region for New York State and the MTA to pull back on its capital commitments.  “There is a willingness to entertain the exact types of things that drove the system into the ground in the 1970s,” he said.  “People are talking about taking money from the capital program to pay for operating deficits.  It’s just this one time – just this year – they say.”

However, Mr. Walder vowed – to the applause of the 500 design, construction and real estate industry executives in attendance – that he will not let the region go back down that ruinous road.  “We must maintain the existing system, and we must finish what we have begun on our expansion projects.  We cannot be the people who leave these projects unfinished, because they never will be started again.  We cannot leave New York with more holes in the ground, more tunnels to nowhere.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Walder said the MTA will resubmit a five-year plan in the next month or two and will ask for the State Legislature’s approval to move ahead with the two years of available funding.  During this period, he said the MTA will review all of its planned capital projects to ensure that each adds value and is being implemented as efficiently as possible.

He concluded his presentation by asking those in attendance for their support, saying, “You have my commitment that I will stand strong against any attempt to steal from our capital program to pay for operating costs.  I am equally committed to the five-year plan and will fight for the final three years of funding when the time is right. I won’t be able to do this alone.  I need your help, and I know that I can count on your voice to be louder than ever.”

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Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson said the industry will continue its role as an advocate for strategic investment via the MTA’s capital plan.  “The Building Congress stands ready to work with Governor Paterson, the State Legislature and the MTA to maintain the capital program and identify financing sources to ensure that the system’s long-term physical needs are continuously and efficiently addressed.  The desire of many to hold down fares and maintain current services and routes, while important, must be balanced by the need to maintain a state-of-good repair while also preparing for future growth.”

For the minutes of the New York Building Congress Annual Membership Meeting click here