THE ASSEMBLY comma STATE OF NEW YORK com ALBANY JEFFREY DINOWITZ ‘Assemblyman 81 District rts Rea apare Taek Face Bronx County. Haran February 16,2017 Honorable Carl E. Heastie Speaker of the Assembly 932 Legislative Office Building Albany, NY 12248 Re: Don’t Break Our Promise to Transit Riders—Reject the $65 Million MTA Budget Cut Dear Speaker Heastie: ‘We write on behalf of nearly 9 million subway, bus, and commuter rail riders and other ‘New Yorkers who depend on our mass transit system for their everyday mobility. These riders are worried, because Governor Cuomo has proposed breaking a promise that the State made to transit riders in 2011. When we restructured the Payroll Mobility Tex (PMT), a vital MTA funding source, in 2011, Governor Cuomo and the legislature promised to make up the funds to the MTA. Every year since then we have kept that promise, budgeting approximately $309 million annually in replacement funds. But this year, Governor Cuomo is proposing to cut that funding source by $65 million, 21% cut. The Assembly must stand with transit riders and reject Governor Cuomo’s proposal to strip $65 million in promised PMT replacement funds from the MTA. Subway delays have skyrocketed in the last five years, and increased ridership has led to severe crowding, Metro-North Railroad has broken ridership records, and Long Island Railroad is busier than it has been in 70 years. Meanwhile, the MTA, @ State-controlled entity, just approved a fare and toll increase that will hit riders and drivers in March. Other MTA revenue sources like dedicated taxes are coming in lower than projected, and Governor Cuomo is also proposing to contribute less than expected to the MTA from dedicated transit funds. This is not the time to break the State’s promise to fund the MTA. We hope the Assembly will stand firm in rejecting Governor Cuomo’s proposal to strip $65 million in promised PMT replacement fimds from the MTA.‘We respectfully request you reject Governor Cuomo’s proposed cuts to the MTA and show our firm support for transit riders. Sincerely, Members ofthe Assembly)