SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

NEW YORK CITY

Thursday, March 6, 2008
10:30 am
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Meeting Hall, 2nd Floor
42 West 44th Street
New York, NY

ORAL TESTIMONY WILL BE BY INVITATION ONLY

In 2007, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a congestion pricing plan for the City of New York. In addition to combating congestion, the Mayor's plan claimed that it would provide a significant amount of funding for capital improvements to the MTA system to absorb the increase in ridership expected from the adoption of such a plan. In response, the Legislature enacted Chapter 384 of the Laws of 2007 establishing the New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission which would review and study plans to reduce congestion.

Furthermore, in order to fully understand the potential use of revenues from a congestion pricing plan, the statute required that the MTA submit, no later than March 31, 2008, a Five-Year Capital Plan. Pursuant to Section 1269-b of the Public Authorities Law, the plan must detail systemwide goals and objectives for capital spending, and describe each capital project to be initiated and the current status of previously approved projects, the amount of funding required, and the sources of such funding. In addition, Chapter 384 required that the plan include the additional capital needs created by a congestion mitigation plan if adopted and the proposed use of any revenues derived from such plan for the capital needs that have been identified.

On February 27th, 2008, pursuant to law, the MTA submitted for public review a proposal for its Five-Year Capital Plan for 2008-2013. The Committees will also seek information on the specific details associated with the proposed projects contained in the plan as well as the funding of the plan. This hearing will also provide an opportunity for the Committees to examine the other components of the plan, such as how a congestion mitigation plan and its consequences are addressed.

Persons invited to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Twenty copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in considering testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on the Proposed MTA Five-Year Capital Plan on March 6, 2008 are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail or fax it to:

Simonia Brown
Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
Room 542 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: browns@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4881
Fax: (518) 455-4128

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