Authority to Include Real Time Public Comments From Those Unable to Get to 2 Broadway Headquarters
Public Comment Period Doubled From Pandemic-era 30 Minutes to 60 Minutes Per Meeting
Masks Required for Everyone Attending In-Person, Regardless of Vaccination Status
Livestream Continues to Be Available
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced today that in-person Board and committee meetings will be held later this month. On Monday, Oct. 18 starting at 9:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day, MTA Board committee chairs will convene meetings of the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, New York City Transit and Bus, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Finance, Capital Program Oversight and Audit committees. On Wednesday, Oct. 20, a meeting of the full MTA Board will begin at 10:00 a.m. The MTA also unveiled changes to the public comment section of its full Board meetings, in keeping with recent New York State legislation extending virtual access to public meetings. MTA Board meetings will provide for the public to weigh in on Authority business for up to 60 minutes, from either the MTA’s 2 Broadway headquarters or a remote location. The new public comment period also doubles in length the amount of time commenters were allotted during the height of the pandemic, when an all-remote commenting format was limited to 30 minutes. Speakers will continue to be allotted up to two minutes each. Under the new format, public speakers will continue to register on the day of the meeting. Should the maximum amount of time be reached, any additional speakers who cannot be accommodated will have the opportunity to provide video comments that will sent to members of the board and posted online. Those additional recorded comments will also be included on the MTA’s YouTube page at the conclusion of the formal meeting. “Allowing New Yorkers to comment from anywhere ensures that even if you can’t make it to 2 Broadway, your voice will always be heard at the MTA,” said MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Public speakers at MTA board and committee meetings are some of the most engaged people in New York and we greatly value their insights and feedback. By providing a more inclusive approach, we’ll be able to hear from citizens and advocates of all backgrounds.” “This is a plus for New Yorkers with disabilities,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “For many, it can be challenging to get downtown during rush hour on Board day. By providing New Yorkers with the option of commenting from anywhere, we are expanding the pool of people who are able to easily weigh in on the critically important matters that impact our millions of customers.” A post-meeting news conference will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the board meeting on Oct. 20. Accredited news media representatives are invited to join and ask questions at the news conference either in-person or via Zoom. Members of the public at committee and board meetings are required to adhere to the MTA’s Code of Conduct. For safety reasons, the following protocols will be in effect on Monday, Oct. 18 and Wednesday, Oct. 20:
For details on meeting schedules and procedures for public participation, to watch meeting livestreams and access meeting materials, the public is encouraged to visit https://new.mta.info/transparency/board-and-committee-meetings/october-2021. |
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MTA Announces Committee and Board Meetings to Be Held Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 and the Addition of Live Remote Public Comments at Monthly Board Meetings
MTA
Updated October 10, 2021 1:00 p.m.