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

Transit Advocates to Cuomo: Don’t Keep Us in the Dark

Only this man can prevent overpoliced transit. Photo: Marc A. Hermann/MTA New York City Transit

Dear Governor, can you make sure you fix the MTA right?

That's the message being sent by a coalition of transit advocacy groups in a letter today to Gov. Cuomo and Albany's legislative leaders — all of whom are being urged to provide more transparency as a Cuomo-hired consultant searches for “waste, fraud, and abuse” as part of a report on restructuring the MTA.

"In order to succeed, the reorganization plan must be the result of a process that allows for constructive feedback and dialogue with the public," said the letter, signed by leaders of such groups as TransitCenter, StreetsPAC, the Straphangers Campaign, Riders Alliance, Tri-State Transportation Campaign and others (full text below).

The letter goes beyond mere transparency, however. One of the biggest "asks" is for New York City Transit President Andy Byford to be allowed to continue overseeing his own "Fast Forward" plan for fixing the subway system, an issue raised by Reinvent Albany earlier this year.

"Construction is more efficient when capital work and service delivery are housed under a unified entity that can mediate disputes and ensure quick resolution," the letter said. "At New York City Transit, the agency’s authority over service delivery puts it in the best position to coordinate its Fast Forward modernization plan, while also running a 24-hour transit network."

Ben Fried, a spokesman for TransitCenter, said that consultant AlixPartners, whose initial report is due by June 30, is much more likely "to produce bad results" if its recommendations are produced behind closed doors.

"We don’t want to wake up on July 1 and discover that the MTA has been restructured without any public disclosure of what’s in the plan," Fried said. "Even a good plan would be viewed cynically in that scenario. With an open process, the plan can be vetted and strengthened by transit experts, and people will have more confidence in the end product."

Here's the full text of the advocates' letter:

MTA Reorganization Letter and Brief by Gersh Kuntzman on Scribd

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Friday Video: Meet the Subway’s Straphanger-Free Trains

We've all seen them. Now, thanks to YouTube's "Half as Interesting," we can tell you the purpose of each one.

October 3, 2025

The MTA Is Headed To The Lab To Design The Ridgewood Busway

A filthy private road underneath the elevated M tracks could become a gleaming bus-first corridor.

October 3, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Good News Edition

The Department of Transportation reports that traffic deaths are way down through the first three quarters of 2025. Plus other news.

October 3, 2025

‘Bean-Counting Street Safety’: Advocates Blast Gale Brewer’s Daylighting Flip-Flop

The Upper West Side pol's inconsistent safety record is getting a second look from activists who once supported her.

October 2, 2025

There’s Good Science Behind the Human Craving for Livable Streets

It's time to understand the science of pedestrian-friendly cities. Or, why streets should be designed like gardens.

October 2, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Mourning Becomes Enforcement Edition

Why were cops ticketing cyclists at the very intersection where a bike rider was killed by a driver on Saturday? Plus other news.

October 2, 2025
See all posts