Senate committee interviews MTA board nominees; debate centers on fare evasion, safety and a $35 million security contract

The New York State Senate Finance Committee (sitting jointly with the committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Transportation) on June 11 interviewed nominees to Metropolitan Transportation Authority board seats and pressed candidates on fare evasion, public-safety strategies and a $35,000,000 security contract.

Committee members heard from nominees who described law-enforcement and transit experience and proposed tougher enforcement of fare evasion. James O'Donnell, a former New York State Police lieutenant who later served as chief of police for the MTA and currently represents Orange County in local government, told senators “Congestion pricing appears to be working. We should take a very close look at that on its 1 year anniversary to tweak it when we can and make it even better.” He proposed targeted enforcement operations and stronger penalties for repeat offenders, saying, “I think the only way you're gonna get the message to the people that are evading ... is to take their cars.”

Why it matters: Senators framed fare evasion and station/bus safety as operational problems that affect riders, outer-borough commuters and the MTA’s finances. Members also raised procurement and oversight concerns about a security-services contract the committee described as costing $35,000,000 a year.

During questioning, multiple senators urged nominees to use board seats to press for coordinated safety, better technology and locally focused procurement. One senator noted the MTA had contracted with an out-of-state security firm, identifying the vendor as Allied Universal Security Services and saying the contract was for about $35,000,000 per year; the senator urged review of that arrangement and said the committee would convene a hearing to follow up.

Nominees also discussed local economic impacts of MTA purchasing. Senators from manufacturing districts asked nominees to prioritize New York-based railcar builders during future procurements; one exchange named Alstom, CAF and Siemens as active manufacturers in the region.

What was decided: After interviews the committee voted to move the nominations package for further consideration; senators were given individual voting sheets and several registered “without recommendation” on particular nominees. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally in the hearing record.

Next steps: The nominations were advanced to the full Senate as a package. Committee members said they intend further oversight — including a planned hearing on the security contract and continued questions about fare-evasion enforcement and local contracting.