Asked if he thought the governor was placing too much of a focus on cosmetic fixes instead of addressing the basic inner workings to keep the system running, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, 'yes.' | AP Photo De Blasio says Cuomo should rethink MTA bridge lights

Mayor Bill de Blasio suggested on Wednesday that a plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on pulsating lights for the region's bridges should not be a priority, as the city faces crippling problems in its subway system.

"I don't know enough about what's happening with the light shows, I can tell you that people that ride the subway are not interested in a light show, they're interested in getting the trains to run on time,” de Blasio told reporters during an unrelated press conference in Queens on Wednesday. “They're interested in being able to get to work, and that's what we should focus the resources on going forward.”


POLITICO reported on Wednesday that after Gov. Andrew Cuomo heavily promoted a project to outfit the region's bridges with multi-colored LED lights, the administration now can’t say how much money the project might cost, or who might pay for it, beyond disputing early internal estimates that the lighting project could cost more than $350 million.

Asked if he thought the governor was placing too much of a focus on cosmetic fixes instead of addressing the basic inner workings to keep the system running, de Blasio said, “yes.”

"We have to recognize that those things are really good, but they're good if the basics of the system are working, and obviously they're not," de Blasio said. "I would never take away from efforts to improve the quality of life once you're on a subway, but much more important is, does that subway ever show up, does it get to where you're trying to go.”

The city’s subway system continues to experience nearly daily delays and a myriad of problems leaving commuters stranded or waiting on platforms for long periods of time.

“The state, the governor, the MTA have to come up with a plan that reallocated their resources to the problems at hand," de Blasio said. "We know what they are -- we know it's the signal systems, we know it's the electrical systems, we know it's the real basic stuff that needs to be addressed."

A spokesman for the governor, Jon Weinstein, said in a statement that "the mayor should know the facts before speaking."

"The MTA will not pay for the Harbor of Lights proposal – period," he said. "It is an economic development and energy efficiency proposal that would be paid for by ESD and NYPA.

"We know riders are frustrated and they have every right to be, which is why the Governor is focused on improving service with a $14 billion funding commitment and ordering a 30 day audit to overhaul the MTA," Weinstein said. "The Mayor should join us since New York City owns the subway and is solely responsible for funding its capital plan. If he cares about commuters he should put his money where his mouth is."

For months now, de Blasio has said he is waiting for the MTA, which is effectively controlled by the governor, to draft a plan of action in order to deal with the subway crisis. In the meantime, he’s been taking more frequent — and often unannounced — subway trips, in addition to saying he will come up with his own subway plan if the state doesn’t do so soon.

"I've said this is the time to see a plan from the governor and Chairman [Joe] Lhota that reallocates those resources and creates real change in the MTA," he said. "And I've said very clearly I fully hopeful that they will do that and if they don't we will offer our own plan about how that can be done.”

Cuomo, in turn, has tasked Lhota with devising a plan to reorganize the MTA, which is due to be released soon.

De Blasio dismissed criticism that he’s not doing enough to understand or emphasize the plight of commuters. The mayor, who is required to have a detail of cars and security around the clock said the demands of the job require him to take public transportation less often.

"It's good to take mass transit, it's good to stay in touch," he said. "I think there has to a cognizance of a lot is demanded from us as public officials and we've got to strike a balance."