The vast majority of residents who rely on the MTA now say they support Senator Jeff Klein’s comprehensive proposal to save the ailing transit system with an infusion of cash to make immediate emergency repairs.
Senator Klein recently introduced his legislation that would direct $428 million of New York City sales tax revenue towards funding its half of Phase 1 of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Subway Action Plan, which would fix broken signals, expand the number of subway cars overhauled each year, hire additional personnel and create specialized teams to speed up track repairs, all of which will help to avoid delays and derailments in the future. The state has already agreed to pay the other half of the proposal in order to bring desperately needed relief to those who rely on the transit system everyday.
The survey conducted by the Independent Democratic Conference, as part of theBack on Track policy analysis on the issue at hand, found that 75% of riders believe that New York City should fund its half of the proposal while 69% were not opposed to sales tax revenue covering the cost. Each year, New York City collects over $7 billion in sales taxes from purchases like prepared food, clothing over $110, parking, electronics, beauty services and more. The funding needed for Senator Klein’s plan is a mere 6% of that annual revenue for a one-time infusion of cash.
Along with local residents, Senator Klein’s plan has received the enthusiastic support of the Transit Workers Union Local 100 and its President, Tony Utano, who called it a rational and sensible solution.
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