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New York, NY The New York Building Congress released its Five Borough Transit Report calling on the city, state, and federal governments to transportation infrastructure across New York City and think strategically about building housing around transit hubs to better tackle the growing housing crisis.
“A high-functioning transit system is not just a convenience — it’s the lifeline that sustains the city’s economy, supports its diverse communities, and nurtures its dynamic urban ecosystem," said Carlo Scissura, Esq., president and CEO of the New York Building Congress. “Funding is critical, and so is successful implementation of congestion pricing, so that we’ll have the opportunity to raise $15 billion for necessary MTA capital improvements that will make our city more accessible, better connected and more equitable.”
This translates to fully funding the MTA, executing congestion pricing across the city, and leveraging transit-oriented development. A forward-looking transit system is essential to ensure a thriving, sustainable urban environment, and to continue attracting talent and innovation to New York City.
The report stems from an assessment and an evaluation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) 20-Year Needs Assessment to identify the projects most critical to improving public transportation within New York City. In the report, the Building Congress proposes various recommendations to bolster New York City’s existing transit system, namely implementing congestion pricing to raise critical funds for the MTA capital program and leveraging transit-oriented development to tackle our city’s housing crisis.
Key findings and recommendations include:
• Fully funding the MTA to ensure a robust capital program and the successful implementation of their 20-Year Needs Assessment and upcoming 5-Year Capital Plan. The capital program alone is estimated to directly create over 57,000 jobs. If the MTA operated as a for-profit business without state funding, the cost of a one-trip MetroCard would go from $2.90 to over $4.78, considering operating revenue alone.
• Implementation of congestion pricing to fund MTA capital improvements, creating an ongoing funding source of $15 billion, almost a third of the MTA’s capital program, toward transit improvements. Currently, the implementation of congestion pricing is at a halt due to various lawsuits. Since this funding is essential for our transit infrastructure, New York state should provide the MTA with much-needed funding in the interim.
• Funding to prioritize ADA compliance across all MTA stations, ensuring universal accessibility for all transit riders by 2055. A prime example for how this can be successful is the ADA Package 1 project, executed by both Building Congress members and the MTA. This project leverages economies of scale by bundling accessibility upgrades for 8 subway stations into a single procurement package. Currently, this project is expected to come in $60 million under budget, which will allow funds to move to other critical projects New Yorkers need now.
• Enhancing Transit-Oriented Development with the Zoning for Accessibility (ZFA) program to enhance transit station access and support housing development. Including the expansion of zoning bonuses like the ZFA program. Transit expansion projects highlighted in the report, with special attention to dense areas of Manhattan’s East and West sides, Southern Brooklyn, and Eastern Queens, illustrate where the need for transit infrastructure is the most dire.
• Transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040. To fulfill this target, the city needs to implement a broad expansion of energy services to feed the transit network with the power it needs to run at full capacity.
• Rebuilding obsolete facilities and subway stations, such as the 59th Street N/Q/R station in Sunset Park, a key access point to a highly diverse neighborhood. Prioritizing its improvement demonstrates a renewed commitment to a growing, outer-borough community.
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