Annual Meeting: Rockland County Executive Ed Day confirmed as Co-chair of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) at its 2020 Annual Meeting
NYMTC council members listening to keynote speaker, Stephen Gardner, Amtrak Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer. (Photo by NYMTC Staff)
During the February 27, 2020 meeting, which was held at the CUNY Graduate Center, NYMTC council members elected Rockland County Executive Ed Day as Co-chair for the 2020-2021 term. Previously, NYCDOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg served as NYMTC’s Co-chair. Commissioner Trottenberg was recognized by the NYMTC council for her service. The New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner is NYMTC’s permanent Co-chair.
Serving as the Annual Meeting’s keynote speaker, Stephen Gardner, Amtrak Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer, provided an address in keeping with the meeting’s theme of Funding for the Future. Mr. Gardner discussed the recent improvements that Amtrak has undergone including achieving a 3.5% increase in operating revenue in 2019, with the Northeast Corridor (NEC) driving this success. The increase in operating revenue has allowed the railroad to invest in equipment as well as longer term infrastructure projects. Mr. Gardner spoke of the requisite cooperation from Congress, as well as from other rail operators to maintain this success and rate of growth.
Mr. Gardner pointed to a number of local projects in which Amtrak is investing along with its many partners and stressed the continuing need to identify and obtain funding to see these projects to completion. Among them are Portal Bridge North, NY Penn Station Access, Hudson and East River tunnels, and Gateway, which is anticipated to receive 60% funding from Amtrak. He added that the investment needs for these major projects are 3-4 times the current available funds.
Council members also adopted NYMTC’s $48 million State Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The UPWP is a guiding document that helps NYMTC and its members to determine how federal funding will be spent each year for planning activities.
Visit NYMTC’s YouTube page to view the meeting.
NYMTC council members electing Rockland County Executive Ed Day as Co-Chair for the 2020-2021 term. (Photo by NYMTC Staff)
Keynote speaker, Stephen Gardner, Amtrak Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer, providing an address in keeping with the meeting’s theme of Funding for the Future. (Photo by NYMTC Staff)