Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The upgrade "reflects a material improvement in the MTA's fiscal outlook, which was largely driven by New York State increasing the maximum rate of the payroll mobility tax," Fitch said.

The upgrade was spurred by improving ridership as well as increased financial flexibility, said S&P credit analyst Joseph Pezzimenti.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority pledged in a legal settlement to devote nearly 15% of its capital plan to make more of its facilities accessible.

Moody's also affirmed the A3 rating on the MTA's $20.6 billion of transportation revenue bonds.

William Glasgall of the Volcker Alliance talks about the future of mass transportation across the U.S. as federal pandemic aid nears an end. Thomas Nocera hosts. (21 minutes)

Issuers are grappling with struggling transit systems in post pandemic.

New Jersey sued the federal government to block a plan to charge drivers entering midtown Manhattan, claiming federal regulatory approval was ill-considered.

After a tax increase, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects five straight years of balanced budgets for the first time in more than 20 years.

The new toll on vehicles entering large swathes of Manhattan will be a key part of the MTA's future capital plan.

"His key role in the financial rescue of New York City following its near-bankruptcy in 1975 set Dick on a nearly five-decade path making sure such an event would never happen again in the city and elsewhere," said William Glasgall of the Volcker Alliance.