Albany, NY—The New York State Senate and Assembly Tuesday advanced legislation that would enact the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Open Data Act. The bills, S4625A by State Senator Leroy Comrie and A1442B by Assembly Member Robert Carroll, which passed both houses of the legislature unanimously, would direct the MTA to release all of its public data, including information regarding its budget, finances, ridership, routes, and service, in open data formats on the state’s open data portal, http://data.ny.gov, and on its own website.
“Streamlined access to critical data on subway, bus, and commuter rail performance will go a long way in restoring the public’s trust and confidence in the MTA,” said Senator Leroy Comrie. “Our legislation is an important step in the direction of enhanced accountability and transparency, so I thank Assembly Member Carroll for championing this issue in the Assembly as well as the many advocacy organizations that helped us advance the MTA Open Data Act.”
“Anyone who rides the bus or subway regularly is well aware of the issues facing the MTA and its ability to run our buses and subways effectively,” said Assemblymember Robert Carroll. “With limited publicly available and accessible data, it is difficult for the largest transportation system in the United States to maintain credibility in the eyes of the people it serves. Requiring increased transparency will raise faith in the MTA and ensure that it is more responsive to the needs of New Yorkers.”