In an opinion for City & State, Kathryn Wylde, president of the nonprofit Partnership for New York City, makes the case that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority should be allowed to tax properties where value is enhanced by subway proximity.
As POLITICO New York reported March 21, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is drafting legislation that "would demarcate huge swaths of Manhattan and the Bronx as 'transportation improvement districts,' and allow the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority to take property tax revenue from those districts that it claims is generated by transit improvements as far as a mile away" for the purpose of rehabilitating the 665-mile subway system which has fallen into deep disrepair.
Planetizen noted much opposition to the proposal. Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan claimed it would wrest "billions" from New York City. The governor's proposal would "usurp the city’s control over its own tax dollars," opined Carol Kellermann, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, for City & State on March 21, as did a New York Post op-ed on March 18.
Kathryn S. Wylde, president and CEO of Partnership for New York City, offers a different perspective on March 22 for City & State.
The rivalry between New York City and state governments has confused the issue and made it seem to some as if this is a cynical money grab, rather than a praiseworthy entrepreneurial initiative by the MTA.
A failure to move this forward would put important projects like New York Penn Station redevelopment, the completion of the Second Avenue subway and new Metro-North stations in the Bronx in jeopardy, since the MTA does not currently have the money for them.
Wylde acknowledges the opposition but believes both sides can work together.
Value capture, as set forward in the executive budget, was interpreted by the city government, the Real Estate Board of New York and others as a money grab for tax revenues that rightfully belong to the city or an unfair supertax on real estate developers who are also contributing to area improvements.
That is easy to fix, and a process that ensures the city is at the table and able to negotiate mutually beneficial terms with the MTA is currently under discussion.
In the end, the case for repairing the subway should motivate city leaders and the Cuomo administration to reach an understanding to use value capture to fund essential public transit improvements, which is in everyone's best interests, she concludes.
FULL STORY: Opinion:MTA’s value capture proposal needs to pass
Value Capture Replaces Congestion Pricing as Governor Cuomo's Subway Funding Fix
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) appears to be backing away from a controversial plan to toll midtown Manhattan but shows no reservations about embracing land value capture, which some regard as a "taking" by taxing land proximate to subway stations.
Value Capture Takes Prominent but Controversial Role in Fixing New York Subway
Value capture, collecting tax increment from subway adjacent properties to help provide money needed to repair the 114-year old subway system, is proposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and opposed by the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Manhattan Congestion Pricing Effort Ends With For-Hire Vehicle Fee
A new fee on trips made in ride-hailing and other for-hire vehicles and taxis in much of Manhattan was approved by the New York State legislature as part of the budget legislation. Plans for future tolls on cars and trucks weren't included.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research