MTA is a corporate entity separate and apart from the State of New York (the State), without any power of taxation frequently called a public authority. MTA has the responsibility for developing and implementing a unified mass transportation policy for The City of New York (the City) and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, ...

Yes, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a New York State public-benefit corporation, which means it is ultimately controlled by the State of New York rather than New York City. While the MTA operates the city's subways, buses, and the Staten Island Railway, as well as the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad, the authority’s governance structure is heavily weighted toward the state level. The MTA Board is composed of 17 voting members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor of New York, though some are recommended by the Mayor of New York City and county executives from the surrounding suburbs. This structural reality often leads to political friction, as the Governor holds the most significant influence over the agency's multi-billion-dollar budget, fare hikes, and major capital projects. Even though the vast majority of the infrastructure is located within the five boroughs, the Mayor has no direct operational control over the subway system, making the MTA a unique example of a state-run agency managing the primary transit lifeblood of a major global city.