Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, was appointed to the Commission on Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Financing by New York Governor David A. Paterson on June 10.
The 12-member commission, chaired by former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch, is charged with recommending strategies to fund MTA capital projects and operating needs over the next decade. The commission includes experts on transportation and finance, and will submit a report to the governor and legislative leaders by Dec. 5, 2008.
“I’m honored to be asked to serve on this commission, and pleased that I can contribute to its very important mission,” Father McShane said. “At Fordham, we consider New York City our campus, and there are few things as important to the life of the city as its mass transit infrastructure. Ensuring rational, predictable sources of funding for the MTA is a critical component of the city’s economic and cultural development.”
Other commissioners include Elliot G. Sander, executive director and CEO of the MTA; Laura L. Anglin, New York state budget director; Mark Page, director of the New York City Office of Management and Budget; and Denis Hughes, president of the New York State AFL-CIO.
The commission’s work will include an estimate of capital needs for the MTA through 2018; consideration of funding requirements for normal replacement and repair projects, as well as the cost of completing existing large projects and undertaking additional system expansion; and a review of scenarios developed by the MTA to predict the range of operating budget shortfalls over the next 10 years. The commission also will propose actions to address MTA funding requirements.
