New York authorities must seriously crack down on fare-beating — and Gov. Kathy Hochul should scrap her $3 billion “inflation rebate” check program — to help fund the MTA’s record-breaking proposed $68.4 billion, five-year capital plan, a report released Friday recommends.
Hochul should instead dedicate the state revenue funding her $300 check giveaway proposal to bolster the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s staggering 2025-2029 capital construction program, said the Citizens Budget Commission, a government watchdog group.
“These $300 and $500 checks spread $3 billion so thinly that they will not meaningfully make New York more affordable for any single family. Redirecting some or all of the $3 billion to the MTA would have a major impact,” the report said.
The CBC also said both the state and city should be contributing even more billions to fund the MTA’s proposed capit al plan…