WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JANUARY 13, 2022 13
Bring back ‘alcohol-to-go’ to keep more NYC businesses alive
BY JANNO LIEBER
It’s a new year but the MTA’s core
mission remains the same — to
keep New York moving with
safe, reliable and cost-eff ective service.
Each of these points is equally
important.
I’ll start with safety, which is the
number one concern of current and
returning riders according to our latest
customer survey. Security must be
prioritized if we’re going to continue
rebuilding ridership post-COVID, and
we’re working closely with Governor
Hochul, Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner
Keechant Sewell to address
New Yorkers’ concerns.
All three refreshingly understand
that perception is reality when it comes
to the subways. Last week, they stood
together with MTA offi cials to lay out
a public safety strategy that rightly
focuses on outreach and services for
our most vulnerable New Yorkers and
NYPD visibility on platforms and on
board trains.
These eff orts are especially important
as we continue to deal with crime
and the growing issue of unauthorized
persons on our tracks. These episodes
oft en end tragically for the people involved,
many of whom struggle with
mental illness and homelessness.
There’s also a signifi cant impact on
service to consider here. In December
alone, there were 116 incidents of unauthorized
persons on the tracks, which
resulted in over 2,000 delays for customers.
This cannot continue, which
is why I’ve put together a task force
within the MTA focused on preventing
track trespass. With support from
the state and city, we will do better for
New Yorkers.
The second piece of the puzzle is reliability.
It’s no secret that service has
been put to the test during the omicron
surge, like every other agency and
company in the region. With many in
our frontline workforce out sick, we’ve
had to deal with staffi ng shortages that
led to some longer wait times and line
suspensions.
But thanks to the strategic thinking
of our operations planning team, we’re
setting a realistic schedule every day.
It’s not perfect by any measure, but
every one of our 472 subway stations
has service, with buses holding strong
at all 16,000 stops on the streets — leaving
no commuter stranded. As more
employees recover from the virus and
new hires fi nish training, it will only
get better. All the while, we continue
to look for ways to increase speeds and
improve effi ciency.
The last component to our core mission
is cost-eff ectiveness. To help riders
to get the best deal possible, the MTA
OP-ED
is launching its fi rst-ever fare capping
pilot next month for customers using
OMNY. Additionally, we’re making it
easier than ever to apply for a reduced
fare MetroCard by introducing online
applications, while working with the
city to expand its Fair Fares program
for low-income New Yorkers.
Commuter railroad customers can
expect a deal with a new 20-trip ticket
option coming in February, along with
reduced rates for monthly passes and
the extension of our weekend fl at fare
City Ticket to all weekday off -peak
trains.
To sum it up, a better MTA is on
the way in 2022. We look forward to
welcoming you aboard.
Janno Lieber is the MTA’s acting chairman
and CEO.
SNAPS
A SUNNY DAY IN FOREST HILLS
PHOTO BY JOE ABATE
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