ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state legislative leaders have rejected a $65 billion capital plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, citing a major funding shortfall.

The website Gothamist reports that State Senate Majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie notified MTA CEO Jannon Lieber of the rejection in a Christmas Eve letter. The MTA has 10 days to respond, after which the legislative officials have 10 days to withdraw their rejection. Otherwise, state law requires the MTA to submit a new plan.

The MTA approved the five-year capital plan in September, but said then that legislators would have to find at least $33 billion in funding. The letter from Stewart-Cousins and Heastie said that shortfall “is a specific concern that needs to be addressed before we can approve the program.” Funding will be part of the negotiations for the state budget, due in March, they said.

The 2025-29 plan includes $10.9 billion for new rolling stock, $9 billion for repairs to track and tunnels, $7.8 billion for station improvements, and $5.4 billion for modernizing at least 75 miles of subway signaling with communication-based train control, and $4 billion to modernize subway and commuter rail power systems.

“This Capital Program was grounded in our 20 Year Needs Assessment, and we haven’t heard any concerns or objections from the legislature since it was approved by the MTA Board in September,”