Good morning, Chair Lieber and members of the Board. I am Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and I thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about the 2025-2029 Capital Plan. This Capital Plan is a necessary investment in our region’s public transit, but it continues to be imperiled by the Governor’s political decision to pause Congestion Pricing. Every day that passes without Congestion
Pricing increases the risk that this capital plan will be cannibalized to fill the 15-billion-dollar hole that Governor Hochul created when she paused the program. While this plan rightly prioritizes bringing the system into a state of good repair, it also lays the foundation for three transit opportunities identified in my Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn: Livonia Yard, Utica Avenue, and the Interborough Express (IBX).
Livonia Yard
Reconstructing Livonia Yard is an opportunity to simultaneously improve transit infrastructure and solidify local jobs near the Flatlands/Fairfield Industrial Business Zone. In the 20-Year Needs Assessment, the MTA identified potential “synergies” between yard reconstruction and an extension of the 3 train to East New York. I urge the MTA to continue evaluating this possibility, while an extension all the way to Gateway Center graded poorly in the MTA’s analysis, an extension to just the yard would avoid building new right of-way while meaningfully expanding subway access to residents and jobs south of Linden Boulevard.
Utica Avenue & Nostrand Junction
While this plan stops short of funding a transit extension down Utica Avenue, it does propose
reconstructing Nostrand Junction, a necessary baseline condition for any future expansion. I urge the MTA to commit to this project explicitly, rather than packaging it among other signaling upgrades.
The Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn identifies Utica Avenue not only as an opportunity for new transit, but also, additional housing and jobs density. While City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is a very modest step in this direction, I will continue to advocate that the City adopt a comprehensive planning process that plans land-use decisions in concert with transit expansions. By the time that junction reconstruction is complete, a Utica Avenue subway to Kings Highway could grade more favorably in a comparative analysis due to proactively planned residential and job densities along Utica and a connection to the IBX.
Interborough Express (IBX)
The IBX is a transformative project that will close gaps in the borough’s transit network. While I am encouraged that this project is included in this plan, it should be made clear to the public that as one of the few expansion projects, the IBX could be the first to suffer if the pause on Congestion Pricing continues.
Even a partial cut to the IBX’s scope could compromise the entire line; with such a massive project, it is important that the MTA not take any half-measures, such as running the line on the street rather than a dedicated right-of-way near the All-Faiths Cemetery in Queens.
The Congestion Pricing pause will also endanger smaller expansion opportunities that would benefit Brooklyn transit riders, such as the Ridgewood Busway and the delivery of new rolling stock that could allow an extension of W train service to Sunset Park.
In conclusion, I encourage you to approve the Capital Plan presented to you today. The Governor’s pause of Congestion Pricing continues to loom large and interfere with the MTA’s ability to conduct adequate long-range planning. As this plan heads to Albany, I encourage my colleagues in the State Legislature to
prioritize the long-term needs of the MTA and our region over short-term political calculations.
Sincerely,
Antonio Reynoso
Brooklyn Borough President