Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef is supporting the MTA/Metro North’s initiative requiring that all train engineers undergo testing for sleep apnea, despite the federal government no longer making them mandatory. Sleep apnea has been the cause of several train accidents, including a crash in Spuyten Duyvil in 2013 that resulted in four […]
To the editor: There are good reasons for “MTA crisis weighs on Governor’s approval rating” (Forrest Miller — July 17). Consider his declaration of a “State of Emergency” for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and funding commitments. Governor Andrew Cuomo is mistaken in his belief that he can have the MTA […]
In the midst of New York City’s public transit crisis, state lawmakers are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill that would require city transit officials begin a study to determine the amount of lead paint in elevated parts of the subway system. Sen. Jose Peralta, D-Queens, and Assemblyman […]
Following media reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo funneled nearly $5 million from the Metropolitan Transit Authority to struggling upstate ski resorts, a senator has introduced legislation aimed at preventing similar budget raids in the future. Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Michael Gianaris, D – Queens, introduced a bill (S.6834) that would […]
With the “summer of hell” living up to its moniker, Gov. Andrew Cuomo today declared a state of emergency for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The announcement was made Thursday morning at the MTA Genius Transit Challenge, an international competition with a goal of improving the reliability of the MTA in […]
It is disappointing that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio still has a poor understanding about his relationship with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after three years in office for management and funding of its Capital Program. His ongoing theme is that because the MTA is a state agency, […]
To the editor: Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal creating the New York State Design and Construction Corporation to provide oversight for all Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital projects worth $50 million or more is redundant. On a yearly basis, the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration provides over $1 […]