Governor Cuomo Insists Funding Subway Fix Is Not State's Responsibility

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday continued to argue the responsibility of funding the New York City subway capital projects lies with New York City - not the state.

His comments come as straphangers increasingly focus their ire on the state as subways are plagued with overcrowding and delays.

Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have been verbally sparring over who should pay for upgrades to the subway. The governor appoints the majority of the MTA board and its key staff, and controls the transportation authority's budget.

Cuomo maintained by law, the city owns the transit system and "solely responsible for funding the capital plan." 

MTA chief Joe Lhota later came to Cuomo's defense during a hastily-called late afternoon MTA press conference.

"For anyone to say ‘not my problem, it’s the state’s problem,' they don’t’ know the law. They don’t know the law and they don’t understand the relationship," said Lhota, the unsuccessful GOP opponent to de Blasio four years ago.

A spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city poured more than its share into the transit system.

"The City's unprecedented $2.5 billion investment in the state-run MTA capital plan is far in excess of any legal obligation," said Austin Finan, the spokesman. "Let's stop the diversions and obfuscation and start spending the resources the MTA has on the repairs and maintenance that will keep New Yorkers moving."