Governor Kathy Hochul delivers the 2026 State of the State Tackle in Albany, Jan. 13
Picture by Mike Groll/Workplace of Governor Kathy Hochu
In her State of the State deal with final week, Kathy Hochul proved but once more why she deserves the title “the Transit Governor.” Since 2022, she has taken motion time and again so the MTA might improve service whereas additionally balancing the price range. And final yr, she delivered the company’s largest-ever five-year Capital Plan – $68.4 billion – so we will proceed to repair, improve and broaden our transit system.
The Governor’s 2026 State of the State speech included much more for straphangers. Two MTA-related proposals have gotten a whole lot of consideration – one to get the ball rolling on reimagining the Jamaica Station complicated and one other to start preliminary engineering and design on the following section of the Second Avenue Subway.
The latter concept – which we’ve already explored in a feasibility research and our 20 12 months Wants Evaluation – is to maintain tunneling westward alongside a hundred and twenty fifth Road to Broadway after we end the three new stations in Section 2. This may save an enormous quantity of money and time as a result of the large diamond-studded tunnel-boring machine is already there. Nearly half 1,000,000 each day riders will profit if each tasks transfer ahead, and we’re excited to dig deeper into the specifics instantly.
Within the speech, Governor Hochul additionally doubled down on her dedication to transit security, together with $77 million in extra funding to help the deployment of NYPD officers within the subway, in addition to an growth of the profitable SCOUT program. There’ll now be 15 groups, up from 10, connecting homeless New Yorkers experiencing extreme psychological sickness to care, remedy, and shelter.
I’m thrilled since we all know these methods work — they helped make 2025 the most secure yr on the subway in a era. Constructing on that success is a no brainer. Survey after survey confirms that security is the primary concern subway riders care about, and we’ve made enormous strides. Along with the NYPD and SCOUT deployments, we’ve put in brighter lighting systemwide and platform boundaries in additional than 100 stations, and shortly we’ll do one other 85.
These initiatives, together with higher communication, are driving main features in buyer satisfaction. MTA Buyer Service brokers dealt with over 1.2 million rider interactions final yr, spanning cellphone calls, chat, written correspondence, and in-person outreach. And greater than half of all points and suggestions we obtain are resolved inside two to 3 days.
The takeaway for New Yorkers is that this can be a new MTA. Underneath Governor Hochul’s management, we’re demonstrating day by day what business-like authorities administration can accomplish, and we’re not slowing down in 2026. There’s rather a lot to look ahead to with the complete transition to tap-and-ride and new tasks funded by congestion pricing that can improve accessibility and additional enhance service efficiency. Maintain using with us to see for your self.
Janno Lieber is the MTA Chair and CEO.
