What's happening
This bill requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to publish proposed capital program plans on its official website for public access.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and public oversight. By requiring the MTA to post proposed capital program plans online, the public gains easier access to major spending and infrastructure decisions before they are finalized, allowing for more informed public discourse and scrutiny.
Enables earlier public engagement. Publishing plans at the proposal stage gives riders, advocates, and local communities a chance to review, respond to, and potentially influence projects and budget decisions before they are locked in.
Levels the information playing field. Previously, only internal committees and the Capital Program Review Board had timely access to these documents. Now, regular New Yorkers, journalists, and watchdog groups can view the same information without barriers, supporting accountability and trust in the MTA.
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Who cares
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The MTA would have to post any proposed capital program plan on its official or shared website at the same time it distributes the plan to one or more authority committees.
MTA riders and transit advocates
They would gain online access to proposed capital program plans when authority committees receive them.
MTA Capital Program Review Board members
They would continue receiving proposed plans for informational purposes when authority committees receive them, with the same plans also made available online.
Headline styles
Publish MTA Plans Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 61
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A1250
- Ordered to third reading cal.1480
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Publish MTA Plans Online
Signed by Governor · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5159
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the publication of the proposed capital program plan by the metropolitan transportation authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2-a of section 1269-b of the public authorities law, as added by section 11-a of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
2-a. (a) A copy of any proposed capital program plan that has been distributed to one or more committees of the authority shall be simultaneously provided, for informational purposes, to the members of the metropolitan transportation authority capital program review board. Provision of such a proposed capital program plan to the capital program review board pursuant to this provision for informational purposes shall not constitute the submission of a capital program plan for capital program review board approval.
(b) A copy of any proposed capital program plan that has been distributed to one or more committees of the authority shall be simultaneously provided to the public by the metropolitan transportation authority, via its official or shared internet website.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01571-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the publication of the proposed capital program plan by the metropolitan transportation authority
Purpose or general idea of bill
Current law provides no requirement for the MTA to disclose proposed capital plans to the public, and therefore only the MTA capital program review board members have access to these plans. This legislation would require the MTA to publish these plans on their website as soon as they are presented to board members and committees, thereby increasing transparency of the organization.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Subdivision 2-a of section 1269 of the Public Authorities Law is amended so that when any proposed capital plan is provided to the committees of the MTA board it is also available at the same time to the public on the MTA's website.
Section 2: States this act shall take effect immediately.
Existing law
Section 1. Subdivision 2-a of section 1269-b of the Public Authorities Law, provides that any proposed capital program plan offered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that has been disclosed to the individual committees of the authority for informational purposes must also be disclosed to the capital program review board for informational purposes.
Justification
On October 28, 2015, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board voted on and approved the $29 billion 2015-2019 MTA capital plan, and did so without the public's knowledge of what was being included in the MTA's proposal. The public was therefore unable to participate in any open comment period on the proposed capital plan or to otherwise scrutinize what was in the budget before the MTA board members voted on the plan. Details of the approved MTA capital plan were only made available to the public on the MTA's website the next day, only after the MTA board voted to approve the plan.
Existing law does not provide for public disclosure of proposed capital program plans. However, it does require any proposal presented to MTA board committees to be made available for New York State's capital program plan review board for informational purposes. Because the MTA receives taxpayer dollars and works to serve the public's transportation needs, the process by which the capital program plan is approved should be transparent and public participation should not be effectively barred. This legislation would provide needed transparency by requiring the MTA to publically disclose a capital program plan proposal on their website at the same the committees of the MTA board are presented capital program plan proposals.
Fiscal implications
None.
Impact on regulation of businesses and individuals
None. EFFECTS ON FINES, TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT OR OTHER PENAL SANCTIONS :
None.
Legislative history
2016: A10489 -- Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.