Reports and Fact Sheets

Reinvent Albany regularly writes and publishes on issues and legislation relevant to our core mission. Below is a complete list of our reports, policy briefs, and memos.

June 2022 Double Jeopardy: MTA Capital Plan Imperiled by Congestion Plan Delay Two years in, the MTA has only 7% of the funds budgeted, or $4B out of $55B total. March 2022 Opening New York 2022: Rating 70 State Agency Transparency Plans What NYS agencies told the Governor they are doing to improve FOIL, Open Data, Open Meetings, and other basic transparency measures August 2021 MTA Needs Congestion Pricing Money Now, Not in 2023 2020-2024 MTA Capital Plan Funding Coming in at Slowest Pace of Last 3 Plans: MTA Has Just $2B of the $55B Budgeted January 2021 Legislative FOIL: A Tale of Two Houses Covers legislative FOIL and the two houses' respective approaches, including recommendations on options for reform. June 2020 Investing in the MTA is Investing in America Analysis of MTA payments outside NYS shows it spent $8B across the country, in 47 of the 50 states from 2011-2018. This in turns created as many as 100,000 jobs. Congress must now step up to fund $3.9B in emergency aid for the MTA. 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. July 2019 Less Than 1 in 4 Campaign Donations to 19 NYS Senate Democratic Leaders Are From People in Their Districts An analysis of donations to NYS Democratic Leaders shows few donations from their constituents May 2019 Only 16% of Campaign Donations to Assembly Leadership Are From People in Their Districts An analysis of campaign contributions to Assembly leaders finds few are from constituents May 2019 Open MTA – 50 Actions NY Can Take to Renew Public Trust in the MTA A comprehensive report that makes specific recommendations for improving the MTA’s transparency, governance, oversight and ethics. (2019) April 2019 Steps Forward for MTA FOIL and Open Data 18 specific actions the MTA can take to improve transparency now. (2019)