Albany can stand up to Trump by defending and funding the MTA
David R. Jones, La Nueva Mayoria / The New Majority
After attempting to kill congestion pricing by rescinding federal approval for the program, President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at the MTA.
Last month, the Trump Administration threatened to withhold federal funding from the agency over demands to see their data on crime and safety. While it is important that New Yorkers and visitors feel safe on one of the nation’s most vital and expansive transit networks, this appears to be another reckless attempt by the Administration to force New York to “bend the knee” to Washington.
Luckily, New York has an opportunity to stand up to this saber-rattling. As the governor and legislative leaders finalize the state’s FY26 budget, they can defend the transportation lifeline we depend on by fully funding the agency’s $68 billion 2025-2029 Capital Plan. The Trump administration is unlikely to step back from its antagonistic stance anytime soon. That means our state elected officials must step up at this critical moment to ensure that such an essential public service can continue connecting New Yorkers to opportunities across the state.
The MTA carries more than 5.5 million riders every weekday, and more than 80 percent of the state’s personal income tax and 65 percent of sales tax revenue are generated in the MTA’s service areas. Simply put, our transit system is the foundation on which our state’s economy rests.
One can also argue that it is one of the key drivers of equity in our state. In a city where nearly every other expense is markedly higher than the national average, the city’s public transportation cost is one lowest in the country, making it possible for working class individuals and families to live here.
Leaders in Albany must protect one of our city’s last bastions of affordability, and that means taking its funding into our own hands. By investing fully in the Capital Plan, the governor and legislature will ensure the Trump Administration’s posturing doesn’t tangibly impact New Yorkers of all incomes who need it to get to work, school, medical appointments, and everything in between.
Importantly, funding the Capital Plan fully does not just maintain the transit status quo. This Capital Plan will provide greater access to opportunity, especially through projects like the Interborough Express (IBX), which will connect neighborhoods – particularly Black and Latino communities – across Brooklyn and Queens that have been historically underserved with transit options.
Even beyond those projects, economic opportunities are stitched into the fabric of this Capital Plan. The plan will generate an estimated $106 billion in economic output and 72,000 jobs statewide over five years. Many Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses (MWBE) and Disadvantaged Businesses Enterprises (DBE) will benefit from this investment. The MTA routinely surpasses the New York State MWBE contracting goal of 30 percent participation every year and ranks number one of all state agencies and public authorities in dollars paid to MWBE firms.
If fully funded, the Capital Plan will build upon this momentum to support historically underutilized businesses, awarding an historic $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion in contracts to State Certified MWBEs, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB), and/or Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). With that in mind, the Trump Administration’s efforts to hinder the MTA would be a major step back to achieve a diverse and inclusive economy that prioritizes equity for Black, brown, and other historically overlooked small business owners.
Whether New Yorkers are getting around or getting ahead, we depend on our public transit system. By fully funding the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan and unleashing the opportunities it contains, our state leaders will not only safeguard and strengthen a vital public resource, but they will stand tall against the Trump Administration’s efforts to strongarm our state into submission.