New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been told to go back to its proposed $32 billion five-year capital program and, in essence, perform a do-over.
A five-member Capital Program Review Board formally rejected the plan, identifying capital needs for MTA's railroads, subways, and bus system between 2015 znd 2019, which MTA itself acknowledged still had not secured full funding.
In a letter to MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast dated Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said she was vetoing the plan "without prejudice to any particular element of project." McDonald stressed that DOT still believed in "continuing the dialogue" and believed a plan was an absolute necessity.
An MTA spokesman said the the agency expected the veto as a pro forma move, and in fact may benefit since it gives the MTA board more time to review the plan. Under state law, the board must respond to the plan within 90 days. An MTA capital plan submitted to the board in September 2009 was not approved until June 2010, well beyond the 90-day review period.