An outgoing board member of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposed adding $30 million to the authority's budget to restore more services that were cut in 2010.
Allen Cappelli, speaking at a finance committee meeting on Monday and whose term expires June 30, cited increased ridership, overcrowding on buses and subways, and uncertainty over the authority's proposed $32 billion, five-year capital program. Cappelli made a similar proposal last December, along with colleague Mitchell Pally.
The capital program has a $14 billion funding gap and still needs approval from a state review board.
Cappelli also cited favorable monthly and year-to-date reports from Douglas Johnson, the authority's director of management and budget.
"I understand that the capital program is a mess," said Cappelli. "But we can't be held captive to an action in Albany over something of a mega-nature when there are things at least within our control that we can do to alleviate the overcrowding conditions."
MTA chief financial officer Robert Foran said the favorable results were based on real estate transactions and may not be sustainable.
Other board members recommended waiting until next month, when the MTA may know more about its capital funding. In addition, New York City is still debating its own budget, along with its contribution to the authority.
"July is the end game," said finance committee chairman Andrew Saul.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is replacing Cappelli with Peter Ward, president of the New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council. Both Cappelli and Ward are from New York City's Staten Island borough. Cuomo also nominated his former top aide, Lawrence Schwartz to replace Saul.
MTA board appointments require state Senate approval.
