Long Island Rail Road riders, it's time for you to share in the MTA's cost-cutting measures to deal with an $800 million budget shortfall ("The LIRR developed reductions that will improve efficiency while attempting to minimize the adverse impact to customers"). Service from Long Beach, Babylon, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Port Washington is either eliminated or reduced starting today. Details are here—for instance, on the Babylon line, "The 7:40 AM train from Seaford to Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn will be canceled. To accommodate customers from this train, the 7:33 AM train from Babylon to Atlantic Terminal will depart four minutes earlier at 7:29 AM, and stops will be added at Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, Freeport, Baldwin and Rockville Centre." more ›

Yesterday New Yorkers received their second stern warning in a week about the dire state of the MTA. "I don't see much basis for hope. I'm very concerned," said Lt. Gov. Ravitch, top liaison to the MTA, according to the Post. As the agency wrestles with a $383 million budget gap, it’s putting free student metrocards, as well as some bus, subway and paratransit service on the the chopping block. Anything, anything, to avoid raising the fare in 2010. more ›

After a series of contentious public hearings in which four people were arrested, the cash-strapped MTA announced that is considering saving several bus routes that had been slated for elimination. According to the Daily News, a "small number" of bus routes might be spared, though a final decision hasn't yet been made. By making administrative cuts, MTA chief Jay Walder told the Post he can save about $5 million and keep some previously endangered bus lines running. "We have listened closely to our customers and will respond by making changes where we can," he said. Student MetroCards and the W train remain on the chopping block. more ›

Facing a $300 million budget gap, NJ Transit has announced a series of proposed fare hikes and service cuts that are making commuters reel. A man who uses mass transit due to a sight impairment tells the Star-Ledger, "This is an absolute nightmare for all transit riders, and it must have been done with either intentional malice or reckless disregard for the mobility of people who don’t have automobiles. NJ Transit’s slogan is ‘The Way to Go.’ But Gov. (Chris) Christie is telling us that the automobile is the way to go." more ›

Instead of cutting free student MetroCards and reducing subway and bus service, angry commuters say the MTA should stop giving retirees, employees, and their families free rides. According to Metro, nearly 50,000 MTA NYC Transit workers received a free ride this year, as well as 15,000 retired MTA workers—a policy that Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens) calls "irresponsible." "They're cutting the W, which is a lifeline, while at the same time giving out perks like this." more ›

As the MTA faces a crushing financial shortfall that could cause service cuts and fare hikes, the new president of MTA NYC Transit revealed his plans to repaint and refurbish eight recently-renovated subway stations that he says have fallen into disrepair. "I don't want to say that because of our budget issues, we can't make improvements," said Thomas Prendergast. "There's room for improvement, and I honestly think we can do it." more ›

As MTA megaprojects including the Second Avenue Subway and the 7 train expansion have fallen behind schedule and gone up in cost, salaries and staff at the department in charge of overseeing such projects have increased for five years straight. Under the guidance of the MTA Capital Construction department, the price of major developments has surged and setbacks have become commonplace—yet the department has grown from 39 employees in 2004 to 151 in 2009, and its payroll has ballooned by $10.6 million. more ›

With the MTA facing a $400 million budget gap—even if it implements "Doomsday" service cuts and a 7.5 percent fare hike—Mayor Bloomberg warned straphangers yesterday that commuting will likely become more tedious, more expensive, or both. According to the Post, the Mayor said state legislators must "come up with some ways to fund the MTA, or the MTA is either going to have to raise rates dramatically or cut back service dramatically—or, what's more likely, some combination of the two," more ›

Thanks to plummeting tax revenues, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expected to face a $400 million budget shortfall—even if it implements drastic service cuts that would terminate bus lines and subway routes and nix free Metrocards for students. So what, if anything, could be worse than the already-proposed "Doomsday" cuts? more ›

Even if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority implements far-reaching service cuts that would eliminate entire subway and bus lines and force students to pay to get to school, the agency will still face a $400 million budget gap. Revenue from a payroll tax has apparently come up short, again, the Daily News reports. The new revenue shortfall will make it harder for transit activists to convince the agency to not to implement the service cuts, and according to the tabloid, it raises the possibility that next year's planned fare hikes might be more than the planned increase of 7.5 percent. more ›

"It's a double whammy," Gene Russianoff, staff lawyer for the Straphangers Campaign, told Gothamist. "You'll have to wait longer for a train, and you'll have a reduced chance of finding a seat." According to MTA documents [PDF], instead of attempting to accommodate 100 percent of off-peak passengers with seats, the agency will aim to fill the cars with 125 percent of the "seated load." Commuters can expect more crowded trains during all off-peak hours on the 7 and L lines, midday and evenings on the 1 and A lines, and Sundays on the J and M lines. And the number of seat-less commuters is actually expected to exceed the proposed maximum of 18 standing passengers on F and Q lines at certain times on Saturdays, and on 1 and N trains at certain times on Saturdays and Sundays. more ›

Last month the MTA announced plans to cut service to the handicapped and elderly by $40 million this year, and yesterday officials explained in part how they'll do it. They say they'll reduce eligibility and service for the disabled and the elderly and crack down on those riders who are abusing the system (and not just by getting rides to casinos). For one, the agency wants to enforce regulations for a certain class of handicapped and elderly riders that is supposed to get rides only in extremely cold or hot weather, but under the current system, gets them when it pleases. more ›

Following a Gothamist report yesterday on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to eliminate the only bus that services the soon-to-open Brooklyn Bridge Park, the agency announced that it has taken the route off the chopping block. The MTA has adjusted its proposed "Doomsday" service cuts to spare the B25 route in Brooklyn, as well as the Bx34 in Woodlawn and the Bx10 in the Bronx, the Daily News reports. more ›

As Brooklyn Bridge Park nears its long-awaited opening day, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is considering eliminating the only bus route that services the park's main entrance. In its "Doomsday" service cuts, the MTA might nix the B25 bus, which is the only route that travels down Old Fulton Street and passes near the park's main entrance at Pier 1 — the first section of the 85-acre waterfront park that is scheduled to open to the public. more ›

Dozens of high school students demonstrated in Harlem this weekend to protest the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's controversial plan to get rid of free student Metrocards, according to NY1. As a part of its proposed "Doomsday" service cuts, the MTA is planning on eliminating the subsidized transit passes for youngsters, which allow some 500,000 students to get to school for free. more ›

Three of the four bus routes that bring commuters across Central Park at night would be eliminated as a part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's planned "Doomsday" service cuts, forcing late-night bus riders to wait even longer for their rides or walk crosstown "during the hours when the park is at its most foreboding," according to the Times. more ›

No part of the MTA's planned service cuts has proven to be more controversial than the agency's proposal to get rid of free Metrocards for students. more ›

With news of another $621 million shortfall beyond an expected $1.2 billion deficit, the MTA is considering ways to deal with its troubled financial situation since the State Legislature (really, the State Senate) has been slow to agree on any sort of rescue plan. There may very well be another fare hike after the doomsday fare hike and service cuts that go into effect on May 31. It's so bad that MTA CEO and Executive Director Elliot Sander said he might even consider shutting down overnight subway service to save money: "I would not take anything off the table. [However] There have been reasons historically why that was not done and it may be that those reasons still exist." more ›

Since state lawmakers have recessed for Passover & Easter break without a deal for helping the MTA, the MTA has released the timetable for the approved fare hikes and service reductions, which range from 25% higher subway, bus and rail fares to eliminating bus lines. MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin tells the Daily News, "While we continue to hope that Albany will reach agreement on a comprehensive plan for the MTA, we have no choice but to move toward implementation of these cuts and fare increases." more ›

The Daily News reveals one person close to MTA CEO and executive director Elliot Sander who is no fan of the agency's proposed service cuts: His 15-year-old daughter Bria, who is a fan of the Q76 and Q79 weekend service, "to get to school plays, test prep classes and, of course, to meet friends and go shopping." Bria said, "I told him he shouldn't do it," and responding to her dad's explanation that he needs to balance the budget under law, "Whatever. He should just get the money for it. It's a big commuter system. It's cheap and it's good for the environment to ride the bus." Sing it sister! A number of bus routes will be cut or have their service reduced (for one, there's a Save the M8 campaign). The young Sander added, "The Legislature and governor should think about students who have to go to things on weekends." more ›

The MTA is meeting today to discuss its $1.2 billion budget gap. While the agency refuses to comment on any specific measures until next month, big fare hikes and service cuts are expected. Today, the Daily News reports that the M8 bus, which travels across the East Village and West Village is eliminated, according to a budget proposal, as well as some express bus routes (the QM22, X25, and X32). One thing that could help the MTA is state intervention, but the state has its own budget crisis. And while some City Council members want to bring back the commuter tax-- Michael Nelson said, "In Brooklynese, basically, we was robbed about nine years ago" (the tax was repealed in 1999)--naturally suburban legislators hate the idea. more ›