There will be a new administrator at the Federal Transit Administration and it could bode well for the cash-strapped taxpayers bristling against the funding demands of the MTA.
That’s the hope of state Senator Dean Murray, who has reached out to the Trump Administration to propose an idea to Marc Molinaro, the former congressman nominated for the transit position. “The feds can’t just cut checks to this bloated agency without them showing progress on cutting on the waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Murray, who called for a full forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s books.
“What they need is a DEAN, a Department of Economic Accountability Now,” the Senator quipped. “They can no longer expect the taxpayers to keep shelling out billions without any accountability.”
A former GOP candidate against Republican Kathy Hochul for governor, Molinaro was a Congressman representing New York’s Southern Tier. As administrator of the FTA, a division of the Department of Transportation, he’ll oversee funding for transit systems across the country and ensure they operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with federal regulations.
“One way or the other, the MTA has to prove that they are cleaning up their act, or they don't get any money. It's that simple,” Murray said. He’s reached out to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to make his case that any federal funding for the MTA should be tied to budget cuts and a full forensic audit. “They lost almost $4 billion from toll and fare evasion because they didn't do a damn thing to stop it. Those are the facts,” the Senator stated, adding that he is adamantly an MTA payroll tax or congestion pricing to fund the agency.
Hochul, who’s been to the White House to lobby Trump for bailout money, has been leading the charge to levy tolls congestion on motorists coming into Manhattan, an MTA cash grab the President is blocking. The agency is on track to spend $19.9 billion this year, with a budget-busting $68.4 billion capital plan on tap. Its Chairman and CEO, Janno Leiber, has indicated the agency is facing a $33 billion budget deficit. He has not recommended any specific plans to address the shortfall and has suggested that determining funding sources is up to the state legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul.
“The MTA has looked at Long Island as a cash cow for far too long,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano. “Now that there’s a new administration in Washington, we expect requests for taxpayer dollars to be tied to accountability. A federal audit of the MTA books should be done before they take another dime out of our pockets.”
Molinaro has appeared before Congressional committees considering his appointment. “If confirmed, I will advance President Trump’s bold America First agenda for rebuilding our infrastructure,” he said. “I will seek to meet Secretary Duffy’s high standards for leadership innovation and accountability.”