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

Cyclist Arrested After Crash with Electric ‘One-wheel’-Style Unicycle

Carolyn Backus is charged with fleeing the scene of a crash causing serious injury, but a clue on Reddit paints a different picture.

Wednesday’s Headlines: Return of Summer Streets Edition

Summer Streets is back and bigger than ever. Plus more news.

July 2, 2025

How Will Mamdani Govern? His Earlier MTA Advocacy Gives Some Hints

Mamdani spent his initial years as a state assemblyman cultivating relationships in and around the MTA while crafting his vision for "fast and free buses."

July 2, 2025

Brooklyn Judge Once Again Declines to Rip Up Bedford Ave. Protected Bike Lane… For Now

Well-connected lawyer Frank Seddio argued against the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane in court on Tuesday.

Money for Something: Funding OK’d, But Details Missing For ‘Dept. Of Sustainable Delivery’

The mayor got the Council to sign off on $6.1 million for the long-awaited “Department of Sustainable Delivery." But what's it mean? No one is talking.

July 1, 2025

Incoming Albany Mayor Could Help Safe Streets Movement Statewide

The state capital is built for the car and that is how it is experienced by our lawmakers. But could that change under a new mayor? Here's hoping.

July 1, 2025
See all posts