What to Know
- They are asking Mayor Eric Adams to pressure Albany to fix the MTA, while improving subway and bus service without raising fares, a tall order for an agency that is seemingly constantly out of money.
- Advocates are backing a new bill in Albany that would completely revolutionize bus service in the city, making it entirely free for riders.
- The MTA tried it temporarily, early in the pandemic, and some other cities have done it full-time.
NEW YORK — A day following the MTA opened Grand Central Madison to commuters on the Long Island Rail Road, some New York City leaders are asking the transit agency: “What regarding us?”
They are asking Mayor Eric Adams to pressure Albany to fix the MTA, while improving subway and bus service without raising fares, a tall order for an agency that is seemingly constantly out of money. But it’s a familiar push from transit advocates, as budget season is fast approaching.
“We demand that the Governor and Mayor keep the price at $2.75,” said City Councilman Chris Marte.
That lawsuit came following the long-awaited launch of Grand Central Madison, an $11 billion project that took decades to complete. As MTA Chairman Janno Lieber put it, “People have been wanting this for generations.”
But transit officials face renewed pressure to further improve subway and bus service for millions of riders. With a planned decrease in subway frequency in the coming months, to save money, advocates are calling for the opposite: more service.
“‘Six-minute service’ might be the game changer communities have been waiting for,” said Bronx City Councilwoman Amanda Farias, referring to the campaign to have buses and subways run every six minutes throughout time, every day.
Advocates are backing a new bill in Albany that would completely revolutionize bus service in the city, making it entirely free for riders. The MTA tried it temporarily, early in the pandemic, and some other cities have done it full-time.
A state legislator says free buses are a real possibility.
“This has a real hope of happening: 66 of my colleagues are hearing from students who can’t afford the fee,” said New York State Assemblywoman Zohran Mamdani, who represents part of Queens.
MTA officials said they welcome ideas, but they need one thing to be absolutely sure of at all times: a reliable funding stream. Although Lieber highlighted the current work currently being done to improve the system.
“Let’s make sure we don’t lose sight of the fact that we’re doing a lot of things,” he said. “We are redefining the system and making it accessible.”
One change revealed Thursday was a new elevator at Penn Station.
“This is particularly important to me as a New Yorker with a disability. Now, more than ever, the demand for lifts and ramps is the highest it has ever been,” said MTA Director of Accessibility Quemuel Arroyo.
