BY MARK HALLUM
The Metropolitan Transportation
Authority has decided
against raising subway
and bus fares by 4 percent,
ending months of speculation
and debate sparked by the
agency’s dwindling fi nances
amid a sharp pandemic-related
drop in ridership.
The leadership of the MTA
postponed the decision on
what critics have called a “regressive
tax on low-income
New Yorkers who depend on
mass transit the most,” citing
the healthy prospects of
aid from the incoming Biden
administration, and with
New York City’s own Chuck
Schumer becoming US Senate
majority leader.
Agency Chairman Pat Foye
claimed the agency could get up
to $8 billion in pandemic relief
after months of pleading from
the Trump administration and
Senator Mitch McConnell.
“The COVID-19 pandemic
has wreaked economic havoc
— devastating the MTA‘s
ridership and revenues and
bringing them to levels far
worse than the Great Depression.
It has also hit people of
color and low-income communities
COURIER L 16 IFE, JANUARY 22-28, 2021
hardest, many of whom
are the very same essential
workers that have been on the
frontlines of this crisis and
who are also most dependent
on mass transit,” Foye said.
“Buoyed by President-elect
Biden, incoming Senate Majority
Leader Chuck Schumer
and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the
MTA also has hope for $8 billion
in additional pandemic
relief and continued federal
investment in mass transit
in 2021 and beyond. For these
reasons, the MTA has decided
to postpone the planned fare
increase for several months.”
Since announcing the possibility
of a fare and toll increase
due to fi nancial fallout
from COVID-19, the MTA held
eight hearings on the matter,
some of which took place before
Biden’s victory over President
Donald Trump in the November
general election.
If the new-look leadership
in Washington DC don’t come
though, however, the MTA
may be forced to return to the
decision-making table, and
could possibly raise fares in
the future.
Transit organizations like
Riders Alliance had long taken
a fi rm stance against a fare
hike, saying it would fall disproportionately
on workingclass
people who have no other
method of transportation.
“When riders organize,
our governor listens. With offi
ces closed and Broadway
dark, a transit fare hike would
The MTA won’t be raising fares after all. Shutterstock
fall overwhelmingly on essential
workers and New Yorkers
with no other way to get
around beside the bus, subway,
and paratransit,” said the
organization’s head, Danny
Pearlstein.
The transit advocate added
his calls for Gov. Andrew
Cuomo to add additional state
resources into the subway and
bus system.
“With the regressive MTA
fare hike off the table, Governor
Cuomo must now put a
stop to state raids on transitdedicated
funds,” Pearlstein
said. “While riders are breathing
a sigh of relief, the governor
must craft a bold, progressive
solution to his transit
agency’s money woes.”
While mass transit users
can breathe a sigh of relief for
now, motorists who commute
over MTA bridges and tunnels
could see a toll increase
of up to 8 percent when the
board comes to a decision on
the matter.
MTA won’t raise fares
for now, citing possible
aid from President Biden
LET US HELP YOU TURN YOUR
LIVE EVENT INTO A VIRTUAL EVENT!
Let Schneps Media help you host your
next event online.
Don't postpone or cancel your events.
Your brand and presence is as important
now as it was before and we
will help to ensure you engage and
connect with your network virtually.
Schneps Media will help you produce
and market your next event.
We have been hosting events for over 20
years and can help you make your event
virtual.
With the reach of our network of award winning publications across NYC,
our websites with over 8 million page views per month
and our email subscriber database we have the reach to give you extended
coverage to invite guests beyond your immediate network.
Schneps Media will work with your vision to customize and stream your event online
- Live stream &/or pre recorded content
- Digital, print and social media marketing of your event
- Onsite filming & video editing (if required)
- Video promotion and social media promotion material and more
Contact Amanda Tarley
718 249 9640
STAY
INFORMED!
Get daily updates
on all the news in your
neighborhood by signing up
for our daily e-mails at
BrooklynPaper.com/updates
/updates
