Downstate lawmakers demand more transit projects — as Chairman Kennedy declines to do so for WNY

img_2855_0 — Tim Kennedy is the only Democrat in the Senate west of Albany. He is the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, but has been unable to deliver any meaningful mass transit investments in Western New York -- despite Democrats' plan to spend more than $50 billion.

Members of the Assembly representing Bronx, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester Counties urge MTA Chairman Foye to add critically needed projects currently left out of the $51.5 billion MTA Capital Plan

TARRYTOWN, NY – The members of the New York State Assembly representing the communities that rely the most upon the Metro-North Railroad will hold a press conference at Tarrytown Village Hall– steps from the Tarrytown Metro-North station – to highlight the many critically needed projects that are not funded in the current version of the MTA Capital Plan for 2020-2024.

Of the $51.5 billion total spending approved by the MTA Board for the five year Capital Plan , Metro-North Railroad would receive $4.7 billion. The legislators will highlight the most pressing projects that have been left out of the Capital Plan and how the failure to fund those projects will dramatically impede the commuter railroad’s ability to maintain a state of good repair, to ensure system reliability, and to make all stations fully ADA accessible – particularly many stations that serve as a primary means of transportation for low-income communities and seniors.

State Senator Tim Kennedy — who chairs the Senate Transporation Committee — is declining to demand more mass transit investments in Western New York.