The New York Building Congress welcomes this opportunity to comment on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's proposed 2000-2004 Capital Program. There are no comparable public investments more important to the future of the New York metropolitan economy, and it is especially reassuring to see the MTA's commitment to a $17.5 billion capital agenda.
The Board of Directors of the Building Congress enthusiastically endorses the Capital Program and applauds the MTA's continuing commitment to maintaining and enhancing the regional public transportation system.
As a coalition of the design, construction and real estate industry, the Building Congress is well acquainted with the transit situation in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan region. In our collective judgement, the MTA has made sustained progress over the past 15 years in implementing four successive capital programs that have maintained, replaced and enhanced the transit system. Considerable successes have been achieved, and the MTA should be commended for its overall record with capital improvements.
The current Capital Program, as proposed, will extend the MTA's excellent record by continuing to emphasize "good repair" and normal replacement needs. In addition, the new Capital Program will provide significant investment for service expansion by constructing Long Island Rail Road access to Grand Central Terminal, initiating the Upper East Side segment of the Second Avenue Subway and building direct service to LaGuardia Airport. This service expansion has been well considered and is being analyzed in a thorough fashion under Federal Transit Administration procedures.
The Building Congress recommends that the MTA commit itself to the full Second Avenue Subway as part of this Capital Program. Work should be continued on the northern segment, for which studies have been conducted, while the portion south of 63rd Street is moved forward on a fast-track basis. Since most of the work on the southern portion will entail studies during the next five years, we are confident that it can be financed within the next five-year program.
In endorsing the Capital Program, however, the Building Congress also would like to call the MTA's attention to several construction industry questions and issues. Our membership believes that the Authority can implement this capital program more effectively and efficiently by improving some of its contracting procedures and regulations. By working with the City's major union and management groups, the MTA can improve the quality of contractors and skilled labor on construction jobs. That is especially important now when the building industry is fully employed and the MTA is proposing its largest-ever capital program.
Our greatest concern is for adequate financial support of the Capital Program. Even with this major five-year proposal, transit infrastructure in New York City and its suburbs still will not be up to the standard required for the future. Sufficient resources are not being generated to meet long-term needs of the expanding economy, and now is the time for government to dedicate long-term financing for public transportation.
We urge the State Legislature to make financing of the MTA Capital Program its number-one priority. Readily-available sources of financing have been utilized by previous capital programs, and the fare box cannot handle more than a small portion of the financial need. Nothing is more important than securing dedicated transportation funding for this capital program and beyond.
The Building Congress is not in a position to recommend a financing plan to the State Legislature, but we do have a number of suggestions:
- that a uniform tolling system be evaluated for the City and
region, rather than the sole reliance on MTA Bridges and Tunnels
facilities;
- that re-institution of the New York City commuter tax be considered,
because of its appropriateness for regional public transportation
and its ease of administration;
- that subway and rail fare increases be considered only as part
of a comprehensive financing package, which includes other long-term
dedicated financing sources.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has provided an ambitious and commendable five-year Capital Program. We urge the State Legislature to dedicate itself to supporting and financing this proposal and doing so with a sense of urgency and the strongest possible commitment. Failing that, the City and region inevitably will fall behind our global competition. We must secure the financial resources necessary to invest for the future, not simply meet day-to-day needs. The MTA deserves our support to the fullest extent possible.
