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Q&A
Council Member Brooks-Powers questions OMB Director on DOT funding and budget commitments
1:03:09
·
4 min
Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers questions Jacques Jiha, Director of NYC Mayor's Office of Management and Budget, about various budget-related issues. The discussion covers funding for the Department of Transportation's streets plan, the Fair Fares program expansion, and specific commitments made during city negotiations for District 31 projects.
- Brooks-Powers inquires about DOT's ability to meet streets plan mandates and potential additional funding needs.
- Jiha confirms the administration's commitment to funding agreed-upon projects in District 31.
- The Fair Fares program expansion and land transfer for the Far Rockaway Trauma Center site are discussed, with Jiha indicating willingness to work on these issues.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:03:09
Thank you, chair, and thank you for the testimony today.
1:03:14
Because I have a lot to get through, I'm gonna just ask ask ask the questions you answer and I can repeat whatever.
1:03:21
So the first one is focusing on the Department of Transportation and the streets plan.
1:03:26
In DOT's most recent streets plan report, was released in March, the department indicated that in 2024, it only built 13.5 miles of protected bus lanes, which once again is far short of the 30 miles required annually.
1:03:42
DOT is also required to install transit signal priority, also known as TSP, at 1,000 intersections annually but completed only 766 this year.
1:03:57
Has DOT requested any additional staff to help the agency meet the streets plan mandates?
1:04:03
If so, how many additional positions and how much funding would be needed to support them?
1:04:09
What can we expect that they will when can we expect that they will be added?
1:04:14
When it comes to bus lanes, DOT has consistently failed to meet the streets plan requirements and has fallen behind the aggregate five year target.
1:04:23
How is the administration's prioritizing bus lane improvements and what plans are in place to meet the required mandates for bus lanes?
1:04:34
Why has DOT been able to come closer to meeting the bike lane requirements but not the targets for bus lanes and bus stops?
1:04:44
Does OMB feel that DOT has enough funding to meet all streets plan mandates?
1:04:49
If not, how much additional funding will be added and when?
1:04:53
If so, why not excuse me, why is DOT not able to meet the streets plan mandate?
1:05:01
Also, since the executive budget has been published, I wanna understand what progress the administration has made in addressing particularly two main issues that I've consistently raised.
1:05:12
One is does the administration commit to expanding the Fair Fairs program to cover New Yorkers earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level?
1:05:23
Also, does the administration commit to funding the $300,000 needed for the land transfer of the Far Rockaway Trauma Center site?
1:05:32
And as a part of the city for all negotiations, the administration committed to funding three projects in Council District 31, A Hundred And 19 Million for tidal gates in Motts Basin, 60 5 Million in for a Laurelton, Rochdale cloud burst management system, and $10,000,000 for the Brookville Park Recreation Center.
1:05:53
Does the administration remain committed to these investments in the fiscal twenty six budget?
1:05:58
And I can repeat any question you need me to.
Jacques Jiha
1:06:00
Okay.
1:06:01
With regarding the street plans, I would defer to DOT in terms of the operations.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:06:11
But do you feel like they have enough funding?
Jacques Jiha
1:06:13
We've been exempting engineers for them Mhmm.
1:06:16
So that they could have the resources that they need to work on those plans.
1:06:22
So but again, I would defer to them.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:06:24
But have they come back to you for additional funding at all?
Jacques Jiha
1:06:27
They come back to us for asking for exemption to our homeowners engineers, which we have been working with them to provide them.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:06:36
So you've been approving what they've been requesting?
Jacques Jiha
1:06:38
What they've been requesting.
1:06:39
Fair fares, we are at 200% level.
1:06:44
Basically, as you know, we funded Fair fare of 145 in the executive budget.
1:06:50
We will work with the council as we get closer to adoption to see what can be done if the resources are available.
1:06:58
The lend transfer is something I would work with you and look into it to see what can be done there.
1:07:04
And what are the other one is again?
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:07:07
It was the city for all negotiation funding commitments for three particular things in District 31.
1:07:16
I wanted to
Jacques Jiha
1:07:17
just Okay.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:07:17
Understand if the administration remains committed.
Jacques Jiha
1:07:20
We're committed to fund everything in this deal, yes.
1:07:23
Okay.
1:07:24
But for the detail, know, for the specific program, I'll probably gonna come back to you with the answers.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:07:32
Thank you.
1:07:33
Thank you, chair.