The MTA is back with its tin cup, and this time it’s looking at Washington. After Tuesday’s election results, transit leaders know they need a lifeline from the incoming Congress to keep the system from falling apart. They aren’t asking for a handout; they are asking for the money that keeps trains running and fares stable.
According to a new Policy Brief from Streetsblog NYC, agency officials laid out a specific wishlist. They want reliable funding, relief from crushing tariffs, and rules that actually make sense for a city like New York. If Congress ignores this plea, the cost gets passed directly to the rider.
The Bill for Buying Trains
The first major ask involves the federal surface transportation bill. The MTA says the next reauthorization could kill a Biden-era funding stream that would cost the agency $265 million next year. That is a massive hole in the budget that needs filling immediately. Without it, the agency loses cash it has already counted on for its operations.
Then there is the issue of buying new trains. If rolling stock purchases adhere to the “Buy America” rules, the MTA is requesting Congress to exempt them from tariffs. To qualify for federal funding, new buses or trains must have at least 70 percent of their parts manufactured in the U.S. According to Streetsblog NYC, the MTA cannot absorb the cost increase caused by tariffs on specialized components not made in America, as noted in the memo.
Security Money is Drying Up
Security funding has taken a brutal hit over the last decade. The Transit Security Grant Program shrunk from $350 million in 2009 to just $88 million this year. The grant money share belonging to the MTA, which required suing the Trump administration last year to obtain, dropped to $33 million during the last round of appropriations.
Leaders want Congress to ensure the White House cannot just cancel federal grants by fiat. They also want grants given out for rational, fact-based reasons. Congress was specifically asked by the MTA to halt a proposed rule directing transit infrastructure funding to regions with high marriage and birth rates, even if transit ridership is low there.
The Stakes for New Yorkers
This is a classic case of Washington playing games with New York’s survival. The memo indicated that voters are weary of tariffs taxing everything and are fed up with the federal government’s assault on cities. If the MTA loses this funding battle, the only lever left is raising fares or cutting service. We have seen this movie before, and it never ends well for the working stiff.
The agency is trying to protect the system from political whims. They need Congress to stop the federal government from solidifying rules that hurt transit riders. If the new Congress does not step up, the MTA will have no choice but to squeeze the riders who are already paying their share.
There is no immediate vote date listed in the reporting, but the urgency is clear as the new Congress takes office. The MTA needs answers now to avoid a crisis next year.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
