The problem is that no one in NYC, rich or poor, has any confidence in the MTA's ability to properly and efficiently use these funds. This stems from a long history of incompetence and wastefulness by the MTA

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JumpCrisscross 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

> no one in NYC, rich or poor, has any confidence in the MTA's ability to properly and efficiently use these funds

They're already using them, and the results show. They could have done it cheaper. But the LIRR is operating at Swiss rail efficiecies since the recent electrification and signalling improvements.

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CryptoBanker 3 days ago | parent [-]

What electrification and signal improvements are you talking about? Signal upgrades are a constant thing in the MTA, both for the LIRR and the subways. They are not something that just started with congestion pricing funds.

Also, efficiency was already on the upswing for the LIRR long before congestion pricing funds[1].

[1] https://www.mta.info/press-release/icymi-governor-hochul-cel...

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ceejayoz 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Congestion pricing was agreed to in 2019.

Expected revenue was used to budget quite a few projects; this caused a bit of a scare when Hochul put it on hold for a while. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/16/nyregion/congestion-prici...

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CryptoBanker 3 days ago | parent [-]

The loans backed by congestion pricing revenue weren't taken out until this year https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-07/ny-mta-ge...

That money you're talking about was money that was already spent to implement congestion pricing

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ceejayoz 3 days ago | parent [-]

One specific loan was taken out this year. (And planning tends to preceed the actual loans.)

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CryptoBanker 3 days ago | parent [-]

Planning is not the same as spending

	▲	JumpCrisscross 3 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		It’s not shovel-ready spending. But it’s absolutely part of the process, and not one you can skip in a democracy.
	▲	CryptoBanker 3 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		That article was about expenses related to implementing congestion pricing, so I'm not sure what your argument is here

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JumpCrisscross 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> They are not something that just started with congestion pricing funds

Correct. But they’re being expanded. Early signs are there. And we have precedent to show that funding this work, and funding it sooner, works.

> efficiency was already on the upswing for the LIRR long before congestion pricing funds

Correct. Congestion funds accelerate that process.

I spoke an inarticulately, but the point was trying to make is that we have precedence for quality and efficiency improving capital spending by the MTA. The bonds the MTA issued earlier this year double down on that. The early signs of that spending show those capital deployments are helping in the way the preceding spending did.

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stetrain 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Sounds like a great area to advocate for improvement.