Members of the Board and Press Corps Invited to Attend Proceedings at MTA Headquarters for the First Time Since February 2020
Public Comment Period Will Continue to be Pre-Recorded for June Meeting
Meetings Will Be Livestreamed
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority today announced a phased return of in-person Board meetings starting with this month’s gathering on Wednesday, June 23. For the first time since February 2020, members of the Board can return to 2 Broadway or may attend virtually for this month's joint board committee meeting. Accredited media are also invited to cover the meeting in-person. Alternatively, they may continue to participate in a post-meeting news conference via Zoom.
The move comes after Governor Cuomo eased New York State COVID-19 guidelines when the State reached a critical vaccination milestone earlier this week. Consistent with the updated policy, social distancing will not be required, and masks may be removed by those who are vaccinated.
“After more than a year of Zoom proceedings, we are eager to resume as much public participation as possible for our monthly Board meetings,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye. “We know meeting in-person is important for transparency, and we’re happy to begin to welcome back Commissioners and the media for a hybrid virtual gathering now that health and safety guidelines permit us to do so.”
The public comment period will continue this month to be pre-recorded, and the meeting will be livestreamed. The public is encouraged to visit the meeting website at https://new.mta.info/transparency/board-and-committee-meetings/june-2021 to watch the meeting online and access meeting materials.
As announced earlier in the month, the MTA will collect public comments for this month’s meeting via video and phone on Monday, June 21. Those who wish to participate will have the opportunity to register on Monday, June 21, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., online at the meeting website. Registrants will receive an email notice with a link that will allow them to make comments beginning at noon on June 21. In keeping with MTA rules, each speaker will have two minutes of airtime. Participants are required to adhere to the MTA’s Code of Conduct. The first 30 minutes of public comment will be delivered at the board meeting and the remainder will be posted online and made available to the Board and public after the June 23 board meeting.