It's not easy to love the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

NYLCV's President Marcia Bystryn moderated Thursday's panel discussion.Service is generally reliable but many stations are dirty and disruptions are no fun.

Still, the MTA is also the lifeblood of New York -- and not just to the downstate region, but in fact, the state's economy as a whole. Mass transit is also key to living more sustainably, so we owe it to the planet to get the best mass transit system we can. 

So, how did the MTA get to this place - and how should New York invest in its transit infrastructure at a time when the state government doesn't want to confront the problem?

Dozens turned out for the discussion, which was organized by the Women's City Club.Those were just some of the big questions tackled at a forum on Thursday that was organized by the Women's City Club of New York and moderated by NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn. The talk focused specifically on the MTA's Capital Plan, which funds major construction projects.

Among the expert panelists were Michael Horodniceanu, President of MTA Capital Construction, who gave an update on current projects including the Fulton Street Station which is on schedule and fully funded.

But Charles Brecher, Executive Vice President at the Citizens Budget Commission, forecast that MTA's 2012 debt may grow to as much as $39 billion by 2015. To better finance the MTA's Capital Plan, he proposed overhauling revenues so that riders pay half of the costs, with the remainder split between motorists and government subsidies. 

Hope Cohen, of the Regional Plan Association, also noted that the revenue streams that currently support the MTA have weakened along with the general economic downturn -- even though the system's needs are no less pressing. 

For some more ideas about how to improve mass transit, check out NYLCV's 2012 State Policy Agenda.