Cuomo vs. de Blasio: Should New York State or City Increase MTA Funding?

Cypress Hills J Station, arguably the most decrepit station in Brooklyn

The New York City Transit system needs help, and the state and city are both saying “not it” when it comes to accepting responsibility for the bill. Evidence of the Transit budget crisis is apparent throughout Brooklyn’s most decrepit stations, and Thursday afternoon’s broken rail along the L line is just the latest incident in a string of commuting troubles.

But which authority should pony up more funds for the beleaguered subway system? Where should the money come from?

What Cuomo Wants
To have NYC handle it. Governor Cuomo says city-dwellers are the ones using the NYC transit system and so the city should pay more for the system’s improvements. He even has an ally in MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast, who threatened to cut city-centric projects if de Blasio doesn’t pump up the Transit Authority’s capital funding.

What de Blasio Wants
To get more cash from Albany for upgrading the city’s aging infrastructure. The repair plan is already a year behind, and without the upgrades riders could experience even more service disruptions.

Five Facts

• The state has pledged $8.3 million for repairs and improvements if the city puts in another $3.2 billion.
• De Blasio recently floated the idea of contributing $1.6 billion to the project from city coffers.
• The MTA currently plans to spend $1.4 billion purchasing new trains to replace the 1970s models on the R, A and F lines, which have more-than-average breakdowns and malfunctions.
• While Prendergast believes the subway system will be better prepared for major storms, many preventative plans have been sidelined in favor of solutions that prevent initial flooding. With more funding, it may be possible to utilize both strategies.
• Even if de Blasio and Albany come up with the MTA’s requested funds, the system will still require billions more dollars for ongoing repairs and constant maintenance.

What do you think?
Should de Blasio pay up for the good of his constituents? Can Albany be trusted not to use MTA-intended funds for other purposes? Is it fair for them to control the subway in the first place? Let us know in the comments.

[Sources: WSJ | WSJ | NYDN | Photo: Wikipedia]

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