New York City Council Transportation Preliminary Budget Hearing
Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
Good afternoon, I’m Brian Fritsch, Associate Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC. For nearly 50 years, PCAC has served as the official voice of riders on the MTA system.
Just over a month ago, we organized a letter from a broad range of unions, transit and disability rights advocates, social and immigrant service organizations, and community and good government groups who believe City Hall can make transit affordability a reality in this year’s budget by transforming the Fair Fares program.
Our five-point plan includes expanding eligibility to at least 300% of the federal poverty level–to finally include workers making at or close to the minimum wage–fully free fares for the lowest-income New Yorkers at the current level of 150%; and adding the commuter railroads and express buses as options. The program also needs automatic enrollment, as only a dismal third of eligible New Yorkers are enrolled.
In addition to Fair Fares, we have been ardent supporters of faster and more reliable bus service across the city. We urge you and Mayor Mamdani to work together to better fund DOT so the agency can actually meet the legal mandates of the Streets Plan and to make it easier, not harder, for DOT to build bus lanes and busways.
We also believe a Bus Rapid Transit network starting with one or two world-class routes as a proof of concept, will serve as a North star for what it could mean to deliver world class service, which our world class city – and its riders – deserve. We look forward to working with you, the Mamdani Administration and our colleagues in advocacy to make BRT in NYC a reality. That means installing protected bus lanes aligned to the center of streets, transit signal priority, left turn bans and queue jumps, and building accessible BRT stations with level boarding.
Two final key issues: First, we strongly oppose any efforts, be it from the Council or State Legislature, to dismantle or create unworkable loopholes in the MTA’s Automated Camera Enforcement program or ACE. ACE is essential as it increases bus speeds by 5% and reduces collisions by 20%. Second, we also hope the city will work with the MTA to ensure the agency has enough bus depot capacity to provide frequent and reliable service. As we work to create the excellent bus service this city deserves, depot space is a critical component that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.