BILL
SUBJECT
DATE
The Business Council of New York State (BCNYS) emphatically supports the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) 2025-2029 Capital Plan. A fully funded $68.4 billion investment in vital infrastructure is not just necessary, it is imperative for sustaining economic growth, strengthening businesses, and ensuring New York remains a national and global leader in commerce and innovation. The MTA is the engine that powers our state’s economy, moving over five million people daily, enabling commerce, and facilitating economic expansion across every sector. The stakes are too high to allow inaction or underfunding.
This Capital Plan is an economic powerhouse, projected to generate a staggering $106 billion in economic output and support an average of 72,000 jobs annually. These investments will benefit every corner of the state, providing business opportunities to more than eight hundred companies, including manufacturers, technology firms, and service providers. The impact will be felt statewide, from upstate manufacturers producing railcars to small businesses thriving from increased foot traffic and accessibility improvements. The sheer scale of this investment underscores the direct connection between a modernized transit system and a thriving business climate.
A fully funded MTA Capital Plan is also a commitment to New York’s workforce. Millions of workers depend on a reliable transit system to get to their jobs every day, earning a collective $187 billion in wages that drive local economies. When the system falters, so do businesses, with lost productivity, unreliable commutes, and economic stagnation. This plan ensures that businesses from major corporations to mom-and-pop shops can depend on a workforce that arrives on time, reducing the economic losses that come from unpredictable service. Investment in transit infrastructure is an investment in small businesses, which are the backbone of New York’s economy. The MTA’s commitment to expanding the Small Business Mentoring Program and awarding $400 million in contracts to small businesses will fuel job creation and foster new opportunities for entrepreneurs across the state. With more than 350 small businesses set to benefit directly from this Capital Plan, the economic returns are undeniable.
Furthermore, deferring necessary upgrades and maintenance is fiscally irresponsible and leads to exponentially higher costs in the future. The pattern of underfunding and delaying improvements has already resulted in deteriorating infrastructure, increased emergency repairs, and ballooning costs. A fully funded Capital Plan ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, preventing waste and maintaining long-term fiscal sustainability.
The Business Council of New York State calls on policymakers, business leaders, and stakeholders to take decisive action. Investing in the MTA is investing in New York’s future prosperity. A fully funded Capital Plan will create jobs, drive economic growth, support businesses of all sizes, and secure a world-class transportation system that strengthens our competitive advantage. There is no alternative, New York’s economic future depends on this investment, and we must act now.