Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Andrew Cuomo

Here’s What the MTA Could Do With the $65 Million Cuomo Wants to Cut

No matter how bad the service gets, transit riders will always have these USB ports.

Subway service is deteriorating, with delays and overcrowding on the rise. Slow and unreliable service has New Yorkers calling on the MTA to rethink the city's bus system to bring riders back.

Now Governor Cuomo wants to cut $65 million from the state's annual contribution to the MTA, breaking a five-year-old promise to transit riders.

An analysis by the Riders Alliance and Regional Plan Association identifies transit improvements that $65 million could fund, including:

    • 21 additional open-gangway subway cars (the MTA already has 750 on the way), which can increase train capacity by as much as 10 percent,
    • Countdown clocks with real-time arrival information at more than 3,000 bus stops
    • More frequent service on the 92 bus routes with the least-frequent service and most overcrowding, which could help turnaround falling bus ridership -- for just $28 million
    • Two ADA-accessible subway stations
    • Renovations of five Long Island Railroad or Metro-North stations
    • The ability to run six additional LIRR trains or eight additional Metro-North trains during the morning rush hour.

The potential impact of the cut is not lost on scores of state legislators who sent letters to Cuomo and legislative leadership calling on them to include the funds in the final budget.

“Through the broad lens of a $150 billion budget, four hundredths of one percent may not look like much," said Senator Martin Malavé Dilan, who represents Williamsburg and Bushwick, in a statement. "In our communities, aboard our crowded trains and buses, however, $65 million goes a long way."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

On Christmas, Let’s Consider the Successes of the Livable Streets Movement

Here's a short, heartwarming film about the successes experienced this year by the livable streets movement.

December 25, 2024

And the Winners Are…: It’s Time for the 2024 Streetsie Awards!

Let's start our annual year in review series with a broad roundup of the heroes, scoundrels and debacles of 2024.

December 24, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines: Green Christmas Edition

We got our Christmas presents early yesterday. Plus other news.

December 24, 2024

Congestion Pricing Dream Lives On After Two Judges Rule in MTA’s Favor

New York won two major victories in court on Monday after federal judges declined to put the skids on congestion pricing's Jan. 5 launch — and hinted that they don't think the lawsuits to stop the program will succeed.

December 23, 2024

Streetsblog Year in Review: The Biggest Sustainable Transport News of 2024

It was a busy year in the movement to end car dependency — and there's a lot more to come.

December 23, 2024
See all posts