Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Agency Web Site: https://www.mta.info/

Mission

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving public transportation in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD), comprising New York City and the counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester. The Authority oversees the operations of the New York City bus and subway systems, the regional commuter railroads, seven bridges, and two tunnels located in New York City. This oversight includes development and financing of the operating and capital programs.

Organization and Staffing

The MTA is governed by a Board with 17 voting members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Six members are nominated by the Governor, four by the Mayor of New York, and seven by the other counties in the District. The Board membership casts 14 votes, as four members (representing Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland counties) receive one collective vote.

In CY 2025, the MTA Board will oversee approximately 74,800 employees and an annual operating budget of $19.9 billion. In addition to MTA Headquarters, there are six operating agencies: New York City Transit (NYCT); MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus); Metro-North Railroad (MNR); Long Island Rail Road (LIRR); MTA Bridges and Tunnels (B&T); and MTA Construction and Development (C&D).

Major Programs

New York City Transit and the MTA Bus Company

The 2025 NYCT and MTA Bus budget includes approximately 54,500 personnel, who are collectively responsible for providing safe, reliable, and efficient subway service; for operating the Staten Island Railway; and for providing bus service throughout the City of New York. In 2024, over 1.6 billion rides occurred.

Metro North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road

MNR and LIRR employ approximately 15,000 personnel, who provide commuter rail service to the northern regions, ranging from Manhattan and the Bronx through the northern suburbs and Connecticut, and the eastern regions, ranging from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens through Nassau and Suffolk counties. In 2024, 140 million rides were provided.

MTA Bridges & Tunnels

With a staff of approximately 1,000 dedicated workers, B&T facilitates road transportation by connecting the boroughs of New York City through seven bridges and two tunnels. In 2024, 338 million vehicle crossings occurred. Bridges & Tunnels has moved to Open Road Tolling, which has successfully relieved congestion – increasing travel times and improving the environment.

MTA Construction & Development

With roughly 700 employees, C&D delivers new and improved capital facilities for the MTA’s customer base.

Additionally, approximately 3,500 staff based at MTA Headquarters perform such duties as information technology, public safety, financial management, legal representation, and human resource administration.

Budget Highlights

Within the Department of Transportation budget, the Executive Budget recommends appropriations sufficient to provide $8.0 billion in transit operating aid to the MTA. Of this amount, approximately $4.2 billion is appropriated aid, and $3.8 billion will be provided directly to the MTA without appropriation. Of the $3.8 billion, approximately $3.2 billion is from the Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT), $344 million is from the For-Hire Vehicle Congestion Surcharge, and $274 million is from MTA Aid Trust revenues.

The Governor and Legislature are expected to work closely during budget negotiations to support and approve a 2025-2029 MTA Capital Program. Accordingly, the FY 2026 Executive Budget assumes $32.7 billion of base funding that would be directly contributed by funding partners towards the 2025-2029 Capital Program. These assumed contributions consist of: $3 billion from the State, $3 billion from the City of New York, $12.3 billion from the MTA ($3 billion of which would be self-funded by Bridges and Tunnels) and $14.4 billion requested from the Federal government. This base funding proposal acknowledges the need for partner commitments to support the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan, while allowing additional time to work closely with the Legislature to advance additional funding.

The FY 2026 Executive Budget continues the State's $3.1 billion capital contribution to the MTA’s $52.1 billion 2020-2024 Capital Plan. This is in addition to the $25 billion to be raised directly by the MTA from revenues from the Central Business District Tolling Program, from the progressive tax on high-end real estate sales, and from leveling the playing field between brick and mortar and online retailers, all of which were enacted in the FY 2020 Budget.

The Executive Budget continues the State’s multi-year, historic commitment of $9.1 billion in State resources for the MTA's $31 billion 2015-2019 Capital Plan.

The Executive Budget also includes $859 million of contingent appropriations for the MTA. These appropriations, from the Dedicated Mass Transportation Trust Fund and the MTA Financial Assistance Fund, would be used to ensure continuation of aid payments to the MTA during FY 2027 in the event of a temporary lack of new appropriations due to a late budget.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Transportation

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025