Philip Plotch helped secure billions of dollars in Federal Transit Administration funds for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). As the manager of planning at the MTA’s headquarters, he conducted analyses, prepared reports, worked with federal officials, and shaped programs to fit funding requirements. His biggest challenge was securing funding for the MTA’s megaprojects including Long Island Rail Road’s East Side Access project which connects the railroad with Grand Central Terminal. Securing funds under the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program required painstaking effort to justify a project based upon a comprehensive analysis of mobility improvements, environmental benefits, cost effectiveness, operating efficiencies, financial capabilities. Dr. Plotch also worked closely with other transportation agencies in the New York region to maximize New York’s share of federal transit funds and prioritize the region’s needs within the region’s metropolitan planning organization.
