MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber
Marc A. Hermann / MTA
Five years ago, I stepped into the role of MTA Chair and CEO around the same time Governor Kathy Hochul took office. No secret, mass transit was in a bad place then. I had high hopes for what we might be able to accomplish together to bring New York back from the brink.
Half a decade later, my expectations have been exceeded: thanks to the 2023 budget deal, we were able to navigate the fiscal cliff brought on by lower ridership coming out of COVID; we’re running more and more reliable service than ever, with further improvements to come via the fully funded $68.4 billion Capital Plan; and customer satisfaction is growing with every month of falling crime.
Now Governor Hochul is proving her transit bonafides once again by championing the Interborough Express (IBX), the planned light rail connection between Brooklyn and Queens that’s going to put an end to long detours through Manhattan once and for all. At a time of great federal uncertainty – particularly around funding for transit – the Governor has helped us keep this transformative project moving through the design stage and environmental review process.
She’s also proved her commitment to the continued expansion of the Second Avenue Subway – long awaited transit justice for East Harlem. Last week, crews did their first test blast at 125 St to start excavating the entrance to that new station. And Governor Hochul’s already laid out a vision for the next leg of Q service, a westward extension all the way to Broadway near Columbia University.
This kind of consistent support from Albany makes it possible for the MTA to grow and thrive. You need strong leadership at the top to secure funding and political support, so that MTA’s 74,000-strong workforce can focus on what they do best – which is moving New York. I’m always grateful for their hard work, but especially lately with Labor Day approaching. Every employee makes an impact – whether they’re on the front lines running service, building new rail lines, and everything in between.
And I’m grateful, too, for Governor Hochul’s partnership over these past five years. From the very beginning, she understood that mass transit is the engine that powers New York’s economy. She bet big on the MTA, and it’s made all the difference in our State’s post-pandemic recovery.
With her continued leadership, and with the dedication of our workforce, I’m confident we can deliver even more progress for New Yorkers.