Transportation

• RPA supports the $306 billion infrastructure plan outlined by Governor Cuomo including the MTA Capital Program, the Hudson Tunnel project, the rehabilitation of Penn Station, Penn Station South, and an expanded and renovated Port Authority Bus Terminal.
• RPA supports the Rail Advantaged Housing Act which would facilitate transit-oriented development in the MTA service area, creating standards and streamlining environmental reviews for projects. The Senate and Assembly can strengthen this language by increasing the radius of the ​“commuter rail station area” from ½ to ¾ of a mile radius from a commuter rail station if the rail station has less than a one-hour journey during peak hours to either Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal.
• RPA supports new fees of $500 for defacing license plates to avoid congestion charges and tolls. This will be particularly important as the MTA moves forward with the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City, hopefully by early 2022.
• RPA opposes a $145 million transfer from MTA dedicated funds to the general fund, along with a reduction in State Transit Operating Assistance (STOA). Transit agencies have suffered across the state already with substantial reductions in fare revenue.
• RPA supports the Governor’s proposal to require internet service providers to offer a $15 per month high speed internet option to low income families and to expand broadband infrastructure.

Energy and Environment

• RPA supports the large-scale expansion of the off-shore wind program with two new wind farms and additional port facilities to ensure New York and the rest of our region is an offshore wind development hub.
• RPA supports new policy approaches to reduce emissions from vehicles, including a low carbon fuel standard.

• RPA opposes Part R of the budget, which allows building owners to use Tier 2 Renewable Energy Credits to meet Local Law 97 compliance obligations. We suggest elimination of Part R and instead an approach that would drive investment in energy efficiency and electrification in affordable housing. Such an approach would maximize benefits for those who need them most, reduce pollution, and create jobs in New York City, while providing more certainty and flexibility to building owners.

Housing and Community Development

• RPA supports proposals to allow flexibility for conversions from hotels and office space to affordable and supportive housing, especially in ways which facilitate more mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods.
• The Governor’s proposal does not include funding for the New York City Housing Authority. RPA urges the Senate and Assembly to make progress to address the $30+ billion backlog the Authority needs to upgrade homes for over 400,000 New Yorkers.
• RPA supports $100 million for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
  
• RPA supports New York Housing Conference’s call for codifying a 5-year capital plan for greater investments in state housing needs. The Senate or Assembly could include this provision in their budget proposals.