At its June quarterly meeting, PCAC elected new officers for the 2009-2010 year: Ira Greenberg (LIRRCC) Chair, William Guild (NYCTRC) First Vice-Chair and James Blair (MNRCC) Second Vice-Chair. The Committee thanked William Guild, outgoing Chair, for his dedicated service over the past four years.
During the second half of the meeting former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch spoke about the MTA financing legislation that was passed in May. In 2008, Mr. Ravitch chaired the Governor’s special Commission on MTA Financing which made several recommendations for funding sources. Of these, only the payroll tax was adopted. Ravitch expressed disappointment at the legislature’s failure to act on East River bridge tolls and the formation of an expanded regional bus service. Of most concern, however, is the lack of a determination of funding for the MTA’s next capital program. Without this, he noted, not only will existing station rehabilitation be reduced, but completion of capital projects now underway may have to be delayed.
