MTA Will Offer Full Subway Service* During WorldPride Weekend

Governor Andrew Cuomo is a self-proclaimed "laid-back, cool dude in a loose mood" who insists he doesn't control the MTA (he does!), which explains why he had to ask his counsel to send a letter to MTA Chairman Pat Foye asking for full subway and bus service during WorldPride Weekend.

In the letter, which Cuomo's camp shared with the press last week, Counsel to the Governor Alphonso David references how New York is hosting "WorldPride, the largest Pride celebration in the world" during the last weekend of June; this is also the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising; and, remember, Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Act in 2011, before making his ask:

I believe it is crucial for the MTA to make every effort to effectively handle these crowds and ensure the parade and associated events are successful and safe. However, considering the New York City subway offers limited service most weekends, this expected influx of visitors would no doubt lead to a great strain on the system and could create crowd conditions that are inefficient and potentially dangerous. As a result, I am requesting that the MTA continue to provide full weekend service for June 29 and 30 and provide any additional personnel necessary to accommodate those attending and ensure they can travel throughout the city safely.

(David's full letter is below.)

Foye, who was appointed in the dead of night, only had one response: "As you requested in your letter, the MTA will be providing full weekend service at heightened levels." But there's an asterisk with that!

Yes, Foye mentions the new MTA Pride campaign, which includes a new logo, MetroCards, and merchandise, but the main point is how the MTA has been developing a "robust service plan over the past several months," that takes into account overcrowding. The plan includes:
- Operating the 1 train every 6 minutes instead of every 8 minutes;
- Operating the C train service every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes;
- Operating the W train, which typically does not run on weekends, from Ditmars Blvd to Whitehall Street.

(Foye's full letter is below, after David's letter.)

Plus, all non-emergency construction on all routes adjacent to march will be suspended—* except from the L train, whose work will continue because of its timeline, meaning that trains will be every 20 minutes. Foye explained in his letter that the MTA will also "will deploy extra Wayfinders to ensure crowds are controlled and directed appropriately" and "will work with our partners at the NYPD."

The full plan will be released this week. Of course, you should check the MTA's website before taking the trains for Pride Weekend, just to make sure.

The letter from Alphonso David, Counsel to the Governor, to MTA Chairman Patrick Foye:

Chairman Foye: I am writing to you on behalf of Governor Cuomo to request that the MTA provide full weekend service for June 29 and 30 as New York City celebrates WorldPride. As you know, New Yorkers - along with millions of visitors - come together in June of every year to celebrate New York City Pride. With events across the five boroughs, New York showcases its long history as a leader in LGBTQ rights and as a place that strives for inclusion and equality. This year, New York - for the first time - will host WorldPride, the largest Pride celebration in the world. This year’s celebration has even greater significance as we honor the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising - a historic moment in which acts of bias and discrimination were overcome by acts of enormous bravery. Our sense of unwavering compassion towards all individuals is something New York has continued to demonstrate in the ongoing fight for equal rights. In June 2011, thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York enacted the landmark Marriage Equality Act. The celebrations immediately following its passage were extremely powerful, and the sense of euphoria cascading throughout the Pride March that day are, for me and many others, unforgettable. The Pride March is like no other in the world, and with this year’s commemoration of Stonewall and WorldPride, it once again should be one of the city’s top events this summer. Crowd estimates for the event, which will be held on Sunday, June 30, are expected to break all previous attendance records, with 4 million visitors to New York City already being projected. I believe it is crucial for the MTA to make every effort to effectively handle these crowds and ensure the parade and associated events are successful and safe. However, considering the New York City subway offers limited service most weekends, this expected influx of visitors would no doubt lead to a great strain on the system and could create crowd conditions that are inefficient and potentially dangerous. As a result, I am requesting that the MTA continue to provide full weekend service for June 29 and 30 and provide any additional personnel necessary to accommodate those attending and ensure they can travel throughout the city safely. New York City Pride represents the best of our city and state, and I appreciate the MTA’s efforts to make sure it is a truly great celebration.

Sincerely,

Alphonso B. David

Letter from MTA Chairman Patrick Foye, in response to David:

June 14, 2019 Alphonso B. David Counsel to the Governor State of New York Capitol Building Room 210 Albany, NY 12224 Dear Mr. David, Thank you for your letter regarding MTA New York City Transit’s service plan during the upcoming weekend of WorldPride, on June 28 through June 30. We, too, are looking forward to this historic event and are proud to support and to celebrate in many ways throughout our system, including, for the first time, designing a Pride-specific logo, decorating our trains, developing custom MetroCards, and producing new merchandise for sale at our not-for-profit Transit Museum. As you know, we take customer service very seriously, and the safety of our customers even more seriously - in fact, service and safety are our first priorities. To address concerns about overcrowding during this year’s Pride March, and to provide our customers with appropriate level of transit service, we’ve developed a robust service plan over the past several months. Just last week, it was reviewed by the team to ensure preparedness. As you requested in your letter, the MTA will be providing full weekend service at heightened levels. Our service plan includes: Operating the 1 train every 6 minutes instead of every 8 minutes. Operating the C train service every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes. Operating the W train, which typically does not run on weekends, from Ditmars Blvd to Whitehall Street. We will suspend almost all non-emergency construction along all routes adjacent to the March; will deploy extra Wayfinders to ensure crowds are controlled and directed appropriately; and will work with our partners at the NYPD. Please be assured that we will be monitoring crowding very closely and are ready to make any necessary changes at a moment’s notice - all weekend - to ensure the safety and security of our customers. We have built this plan based off of information from last year’s Pride March, as well as the increased participant projections for this year. These changes mentioned above were included in a memo sent to NYCT staff on June 12, to ensure all our staff are aware and ready to support. That memo has been attached here for your convenience. Once again, thank you for your letter. We look forward to a joyous and safe WorldPride weekend, and to celebrating with New Yorkers and the world. Regards, Patrick J. Foye Chairman and Chief Executive Officer