A taxi passes below an unused congestion pricing gantry.
File Photograph by Dean Moses
Join our New York News e-mail publication to get information, updates, and native insights delivered straight to your inbox!
This month, the vacation season will ring in soul-crushing, lung-choking site visitors and limitless Gridlock Alert Days. Subsequent month, we’ll lastly do one thing about it. Beginning January fifth, the primary automobiles will probably be charged to enter the Central Enterprise District and we’ll look ahead to a brand new yr with much less site visitors, cleaner air, and important funding for our important transit community. We’ll be nearer to a future with out Gridlock Alert Calendars.
One yr in the past yesterday, we stood proudly with Governor Hochul to rally in assist of congestion pricing. It’s been a little bit of a bumpy highway to get thus far, however Governor Hochul has reaffirmed her dedication to the area’s almost six million day by day subway, bus, Staten Island Railway, LIRR and Metro-North riders and cleared the way in which for greater than $15 billion {dollars} of investments, together with 23 new elevators in subway and Staten Island Rail stations across the metropolis; a big push towards electrifying the bus fleet; fashionable alerts on the A, C, B, D, F, and M traces; accessibility and station enhancements, energy upgrades and security and safety work for the LIRR and Metro-North; and Section 2 of the Second Avenue Subway – to call a couple of.
It ought to come as no shock since Governor Hochul has repeatedly stood up for the thousands and thousands of New Yorkers across the area who depend on protected, frequent, and dependable transit. The distinction throughout the Hudson River couldn’t be clearer: whereas New Jersey Transit is buckling after a long time of fiscal instability and a 15% fare improve, in New York, the MTA is on strong monetary footing with bold plans for the longer term.
Governor Hochul has additionally affirmed her dedication to the MTA’s subsequent capital plan. As soon as a funding settlement has been labored out with the Legislature, will probably be the most important funding in new rolling inventory in MTA historical past, add not less than 60 new elevators throughout the subway system, guarantee Metro-North’s Hudson Line doesn’t slide into the Hudson River, permit for 40-minute journey between Jackson Heights and Bay Ridge with the Interborough Specific, and improve alerts on the N, Q, R, W, J, Z, and A trains in addition to the Rockaway shuttle, amongst many different feats.
This ends the cycle of disinvestment that culminated within the 2017 ‘Summer of Hell’ and units us on observe to realize the world-class transit system we deserve. Whereas these enhancements will probably be monumental, they’ll take time and we all know that New Yorkers want reduction now in terms of affordability – a problem Governor Hochul has been laser targeted on.
As we head into the following legislative session in Albany, we’ve proposed 5 fare insurance policies that may ship that fast reduction:
Introduce A.M. peak reductions on the LIRR and Metro-North for senior, disabled, and Medicare-eligible riders
This can make it simpler for seniors and disabled New Yorkers to get to work, social actions and physician’s appointments by transit.
Shut the ‘mid-kid’ hole by making a Household Fare for the LIRR and Metro-North
Whereas children between the ages of 5 and eleven can journey with an grownup for simply $1, no such low cost exists for twelve- to seventeen-year-olds. Closing this hole will make utilizing the LIRR and Metro-North for household outings within the metropolis way more inexpensive.
Create a weekly CityTicket with transfers to New York Metropolis Transit
The CityTicket permits intra-city commuter rail riders to journey throughout the metropolis for $5 off-peak and $7 peak. Making a weekly CityTicket and offering discounted transfers to subways and buses will make this nice choice even better.
Develop Truthful Fares to the commuter railroads inside New York Metropolis
Right now, too many New York Metropolis residents in subway deserts like Southeast Queens and elements of the Bronx have commuter rail operating by way of their backyards however spend hours extra on buses than they should just because they’ll’t afford the LIRR or Metro-North. Truthful Fares on the railroads will give thousands and thousands of working-class New Yorkers their money and time again.
Develop Truthful Fares to 200% of the Federal Poverty Stage
Increasing Truthful Fares to 200% of the Federal Poverty Stage (FPL) would permit as many as 450,000 extra New Yorkers to qualify for half-fares on the railroads. The overwhelming majority of minimal wage staff are ineligible on the present eligibility threshold of 145% of FPL – and nationally, New York Metropolis has the lowest eligibility threshold of cities surveyed, regardless of having the very best poverty price.
These insurance policies will present fast monetary reduction to riders from Westhampton to Wassaic and all over the place in between. Forward of congestion pricing, we’ve got the chance to make one of the best case for New Yorkers to get on, or again on, transit by enacting these common sense fare reductions. Let’s get it carried out.
Lisa Daglian is the Government Director of the Everlasting Residents Advisory Committee to the MTA
