NEW YORK, NY October 21, 2009 —A watchdog group is urging the MTA to scale back its request for more capital funding, saying officials won't be able spend the money quickly enough.

The transit agency has asked Albany to approve a $26-billion capital plan to spend on new train cars, station rehabilitation and construction projects over the next five years.

But the Citizens Budget Commission says the MTA has only committed 75 percent of the funds that were allocated in the last plan in 2005. Charles Brecher wrote the report:

BRECHER: Over-promising or loading up a capital plan with projects that don't happen is not a good way to build up public confidence and go back to them and say, give us more money.

REPORTER: In a statement, an MTA spokesman says the authority's looking forward to discussing the capital program with the Citizens Budget Commission and others.