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The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) celebrated its 40th anniversary yesterday, and Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Elliot Sander marked it by delivering a “State of the MTA” address.

Among the highlights: The authority will add $30 million worth of new service this year, including increased service on 11 subway lines, and additional Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North commuter-rail trains and cars. MTA also announced it will improve customer communications and hold quarterly webinars, the first of which will be held later this month to address MTA’s recently released 2008-2013 capital program.

In addition, Sander outlined MTA’s vision for the next 40 years, which includes providing a more streamlined regional transportation system built upon current expansion projects, such as the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access. MTA proposes to extend the Second Avenue Subway to the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn; add Metro-North service to Penn Station; add service on underutilized rights of way and middle tracks; connect West of Hudson Metro-North trains with the Hudson Line; add service to Stewart Airport; and work with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to add a second AirTrain line from the LIRR Main Line at Woodside to LaGuardia Airport.

MTA has included $50 million in its new capital plan for expansion studies.