Accountable Public Authorities and an “Open MTA”
NYS public authorities, like the MTA and Thruway, borrow 96% of state debt and spend $50B a year. They should be accountable and open. The MTA is the largest single unit of state government employs 70,000 people and has an annual budget of $17B. We seek an “Open MTA.”

In the News
Accountable Public Authorities

November 12, 2019 State Pols Hold Rare Transit Hearing at Same Time as Monthly MTA Meetings The City
November 12, 2019 State Lawmakers Challenge MTA’s Multi-Billion-Dollar Plan to Fix NYC’s Transit Systems New York Daily News
November 5, 2019 State Lawmakers Must Provide Better Oversight on MTA Spending: Advocates AM New York
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From the Blog
Accountable Public Authorities

November 12, 2019 Legislature Must Provide Ongoing Oversight of MTA Capital Spending Testimony of Reinvent Albany NYS Joint Legislative Hearing on the MTA 2020-2024 Capital Plan Re: Need for Ongoing Legislative of Oversight of $88B in Approved MTA Capital Plan Spending November 12, 2019 Good morning, my name is Rachael Fauss, and I am the Senior Research Analyst for Reinvent Albany. We advocate for more transparent and […]
October 23, 2019 Watchdog Thanks MTA For Budget Transparency Website Testimony of Rachael Fauss, Reinvent Albany Before MTA Board Re: Praise for MTA Release of Budget Information in Open Data October 23, 2019Good morning. I am Rachael Fauss, Senior Research Analyst for Reinvent Albany. We advocate for more transparent and accountable state government, including state authorities like the MTA. We would like to thank the […]
October 21, 2019 Testimony to MTA Finance Committee on Increasing Police Force Testimony of Rachael Fauss, Reinvent Albany Before MTA Finance CommitteeRe: MTA must show how it will fund increasing the size of the MTA police force by 581 officers October 21, 2019 Good afternoon. I am Rachael Fauss, Senior Research Analyst for Reinvent Albany. We advocate for more transparent and accountable state government, including state authorities […]
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Reports and Policy Briefs
Accountable Public Authorities

September 2019 Analysis Shows Huge Challenge for MTA to Spend $55B 2020-24 Capital Plan Analysis shows the biggest constraint is the MTA’s ability to spend, not find capital funding. Recommends honest and detailed implementation plan, as well as detailed, itemized lists of projects and changes to prior plans.
August 2019 Where is the 2020-2024 MTA Capital Plan? Review of past MTA capital plan processes shows 2019 is one of most secretive since capital plans began in 1982, diverging from transparency norms.
August 2019 Who is the MTA Board? An analysis of the 2019 MTA Board finds that only 36% of voting board members live in NYC, versus 89% of riders. When additionally compared by age, income, and ethnicity, MTA board members are not like transit riders. Review of financial disclosures also finds conflicts of interest for board members.
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