Who Actually Runs the Subway: The State vs. City Power Split Explained

Who Actually Runs the Subway: The State vs. City Power Split Explained

If the MTA feels distant from city politics, that's because it is. The subway isn't run by New York City; it's controlled by a state authority answering mostly to Albany, not City Hall.

By design, the Governor appoints the voting majority of the MTA Board, including the Chair and CEO. The Mayor recommends four members, but those are still approved through the state process.

Governor Kathy Hochul's choices have shaped how the agency operates. Her pick of Janno Lieber, a longtime infrastructure executive who previously led MTA Construction & Development and pushed projects like the Second Avenue Subway and Grand Central Madison, signaled a focus on delivery and modernization over political showmanship.

Her later appointment of Elizabeth Velez, head of the Velez Organization and co-chair of the NY Building Congress, strengthened ties between the MTA and New York's construction industry. Velez has been a visible advocate for minority- and women-owned business participation in public contracts.

That influence runs through the budget too. In 2025, Hochul and state legislators approved legislation to fully fund the MTA's $68.4 billion capital plan, closing gaps with $33 billion in state contributions. When the state controls both the people and the purse, it effectively sets MTA priorities.

Albany's reach could grow further. A 2025 State Senate proposal, Bill S2714, would create a fiscal control board to oversee spending and "correct inefficiencies," giving lawmakers direct leverage over how the agency allocates money.

City Hall has influence, but it's mostly persuasive rather than decisive. The mayor can advocate, lobby, and appoint a handful of members, yet ultimate control stays with Albany.