Gov. Hochul: Planned MTA service cuts, fare hikes ‘off the table’

According to the governor, $14 billion would go to roads, $10.5 billion for transit projects, $3 billion toward clean water and $100 million for expanding broadband in the state.

News 12 Staff

Nov 15, 2021, 4:11 PM

Updated 1,058 days ago

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Service cuts for the MTA planned for 2023-24 and fare hikes are now “off the table” according to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was on her way to Washington, D.C. to watch President Joe Biden sign the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package.
She spoke to the media at Albany International Airport where she quickly broke down where the bill’s funding will be going in the state.
According to the governor, $14 billion would go to roads, $10.5 billion for transit projects, $3 billion toward clean water and $100 million for expanding broadband in the state.
Millions more would go toward climate resiliency projects, she said.
Hochul’s trip to Washington marks her first since she was sworn in. President Joe Biden signed the bill in the late afternoon.
News 12 spoke to commuters who welcomed Hochul’s MTA announcement.
“I think that's amazing, especially for college students like me who commute every single day,” said Ansa Zubair, of Hicksville.
Anthony Jenco, of Glen Cove, gave the thumbs up to improving roads after relaying some bad experiences with blown tires.
“I had to have the car balanced a few times,” he said. “Some of the roads are in pretty rough shape.”
It’s unclear the exact impact the bill will have on Long Island's economy, but Matt Cohen from the Long Island Association, Inc. says the bipartisanship in Congress can only help.
“This transcended partisan politics and now we have something special,” he said. “That is really going be a game-changer for our region and the entire country.”
Airports in the New York area are also slated to get money from the federal infrastructure bill. Republic Airport in Farmingdale is expected to receive $26.1 million for improvements.
The package, which includes $550 billion in new spending, is meant to repair and enhance the country's crumbling infrastructure. About $650 billion of the funding will be reallocated from already existing projects and funds.
It includes:
•          $110 billion for highways and bridges
•          $65 billion for high-speed internet
•          $39 billion for public transportation