Background information:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a sprawling system that provides service to Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau County, and New York City, an area that includes almost 14 million people with a wide range of mobility needs. Service that the MTA provides includes buses and trains, maintaining bridges and tunnels, and providing para transit for people with disabilities, among other things. In 2013 MTA ridership rose to nearly 2.7 billion trips, and is expected to rise more in the future.
The MTA currently has the Permanent Citizens Advisory Council, which researches and deliberates the issues of transit dependent riders, yet this organization, which has existed for decades, does not have voting power on the Board.
In addition to the 7 train extension, East Side Access project, and 2nd Avenue subway, the MTA plans to make significant expansions to their Select Bus Service (express bus) program.
The MTA has requested $30b for their 2015 – 2019 capital. However, the state government and federal agencies, have indicated that only half of that amount will be available, in which case the MTA Board would be forced to borrow, raising issues of debt service, or cut service and/or raise fares in order to meet budget priorities.
Recent Campaign Actions:
— In September of 2014, NYSTEAs downstate coalition members submitted a petition with over 1000 signatures gathered from transit riders on MTA buses and trains to the Mayor of NYC, Bill de Blasio, asking that he use two of his four recommendations for the MTA Board, for the appointment of a rider representative. Sign the petition here.
— Sign the petition here.
— In September of 2014, a letter was also submitted to Mayor de Blasio asking that he recommend a rider representative, the letter was endorsed by over 25 local organizations and 30 city councillors.
— See the letter to Mayor de Blasio here.
The NYSTEA letter to NYC Mayor de Blasio was endorsed by over 25 local organizations and 30 city councillors. Click on the image above to see details.
MTA Fact Sheets
To download the PDFs click here: