NYPTA President Frank Kobliski testified before the Assembly Transportation Committee hearing on NYSDOT's proposed five year capital program. Committee Chairman David Gantt presided over the hearing, which was held in Rochester on December 8, 2009. NYPTA outlined its position on the NYSDOT proposal, noting that it provided for a 44% increase in non-MTA capital funding, grew the transit program at the same rate as the highway and bridge program, and underscored the critical need to address operating assistance issues in conjunction with capital funding. President Kobliski stated that despite these positive points, the NYSDOT proposal fell short of what is needed to make public transit a more viable option throughout the state. NYPTA recommended that the capital funding proposal be increased by $130 million to accelerate modernization of the bus fleet. Mr. Kobliski also strongly urged the Legislature to consider the growing operating assistance crisis when the capital plan is considered.

Assemblyman Gantt evidenced interest in the STOA program and asked if NYPTA had a position on the use of performance parameters as an alternate approach to distributing STOA across the state. Mr. Kobliski noted that there was general agreement in the industry that a performance-based allocation methodology would be desirable, but that a consensus must be developed on using metrics that insure fairness and equity. Mr. Gantt also invited recommendations on how to increase revenues to meet the capital and operating needs of public transit.

Following the NYPTA testimony, C. Douglas Hartmayer presented testimony on behalf of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The NFTA presentation echoed many of NYPTA's themes, particularly in its emphasis that operating assistance issues needed attention concurrent with the capital plan proposal.

NYPTA will continue to update its members on developments with the Assembly Transportation Committee hearings. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at Association headquarters.

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