MTA using all money?

To the editor:

(re: “Subway riders give pols an earful,” Aug. 10)

I wonder how Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman Ydaris Rodriguez stand on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recent complaint about how slowly the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is spending his $2.5 billion contribution to the MTA’s $32 billion capital plan.

Does he feel the same about how quickly both the MTA and his city transportation department spent U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration funding?

The FTA provides more than $1.2 billion in capital grants to the MTA yearly. The city’s DOT may average $60 million yearly. Both are accomplished under the FTA’s transit award management system, known as TrAMS, used to award and manage federal grants.

The MTA currently manages an active portfolio of federally funded capital improvement projects and programs in open grants worth more than $12 billion in direct FTA financial assistance. The city’s DOT does the same for $398 million, New Jersey Transit for $2.6 billion, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for $3.9 billion.

Both the MTA and FTA have independent engineering consultant firms to supplement in-house staff for oversight. These companies provide both oversight and technical assistance for capital projects. Engineering firms monitor the progress of major capital projects, and prepare monthly progress reports. 

As part of the requirements contained within all master grant agreements, using the FTA TrAMS, the MTA and city DOT provide updated quarterly financial and milestone progress reports to the FTA on active capital improvement projects and programs. 

Have all MTA and DOT grant-funded capital project contracts been awarded? Are they progressing on schedule and within budget? Are any contract change orders fair, reasonable and documented? Do MTA and DOT seek federal reimbursement as appropriate on a regular basis?

Both Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo proudly boast how they manage the most transparent administrations in history. How much of this information is posted on their respective websites?

Riders and taxpayers are looking for accountability, and efficient and timely completion to assure more reliable and safe commutes.

Larry Penner