LG Richard Ravitch has been keeping a low profile, but that doesn’t mean he’s not hard at work chronicling the rather frightening challenges facing the state – and Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo – in the coming years.

On the heels of a report that called for an overhaul of the Medicaid program, comes another white paper from Ravitch that finds New York (unsurprisingly) lacks sufficient funds to maintain its current transportation system, let alone the money needed to expand and improve the system to keep pace with demographic and economic growth.

“In this period of austerity, national economic uncertainty, unpredictability of federal funding, and rising social service costs there is an increasing risk that funding for infrastructure investments will be curbed to dangerous levels,” Ravitch said in a press release.

“To preserve safety and prepare for economic recovery, the state must craft a multi-year transportation capital investment strategy that sets clear and attainable priorities, identifies reliable revenues, and balances competing regional demands.”

Ravitch wants the state to adopt a “responsibly-sized” five-year transportation capital plans that prioritizes projects according to safety needs. He thinks replacement of the Tappan Zee and Kosciuszko bridges, which are at the end of their useful lives, should take precedence.

He’s also floating the dreaded toll idea (something he suggested for the MTA bailout and was promptly shot down by outer borough lawmakers), calling for streamlining environmental reviews and enacting legislation to permit the use of “design-build” contracts.

Ravitch will be joining me for a CapTon interview tonight to discuss his latest report. Tune in at 8 p.m. or 11:30 p.m.

Lt Governor Report Transportation Capital Needs

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