August 20, 2025

Good evening. My name is Cicely Harris, and I’m a member of the New York City Transit Riders Council.

I appreciate the opportunity to comment tonight. Nobody likes fare increases, but I also know the MTA needs steady, moderate funding to keep our system running.

Still, we’re in the middle of a real affordability crisis, and riders especially low-income New Yorkers and frequent users need targeted relief. To do that, we should support:

· Creating a 30-day fare cap to make up for the discontinuation of the 30-day unlimited MetroCard, which could amount to a fare hike of up to 18% for some riders.

· Build on the success of the CityTicket by adding a weekly CityTicket cap that includes transfers to subways and buses—similar to the $67 cap already proposed for express bus riders.

· Expanding the Fair Fares Program to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level as an absolute minimum. This would allow an additional 400,000 New Yorkers, including many minimum wage workers, to qualify. An additional expansion to include the railroads within the city and Express Buses would also bring relief to people with some of the city’s longest commutes.

· Unifying New York City’s fare zones between Metro-North and the LIRR to make travel around the city as seamless as the new connection at Grand Central can be.

Fare increases are hard and financial instability is real. But if they’re paired with intentional equitable changes and the right incentives, they can be made fairer and more manageable for the people who depend on transit the most. Thank you.

The post Fare Change Hearing Testimony- Intentional Equitable Changes and the Right Incentives appeared first on PCAC.

Hello. I am Karen Hamilton, a member of the NYC Transit Riders Council, a SE Queens resident, and a life-long rider of the bus, subway, & LIRR.
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed fare changes. Fare increases are generally not popular. I also recognize fares are one of the sources of funding needed to sustain transit operations.
The following policy changes cause a considerable financial burden on riders and should be reconsidered.
● Discontinuation of the 30-day unlimited MetroCard could amount to a fare increase of up to 18% for monthly riders.
● The four-hour activations window for railroad tickets does not articulate train delay and cancellation policies.
● Loss of the 10-trip on the railroads also results in“hidden” fare increase. The proposed free 11th trip limits ticket options and travel flexibility by reducing the duration of use from two months to 2 weeks.
There are additional changes the MTA can implement which demonstrate commitment to riders.
● A 30-day fare cap for transit riders.
● Transfers to regular buses and subways with a capped weekly City Ticket, which is very successful.
● More flexibility on paper railroad tickets for riders who want to travel outside of the days/times designated by the 11th trip free and daily tickets. This means keeping the 10-trip and round-trip tickets.
The relationship between transit and riders is symbiotic. The needs of both must be considered and addressed in a fairly balanced manner. The proposed recommendations will help reduce the financial impact by providing great value for the increased cost.
Thank you.

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Andrew Albert, Chair of the New York City Transit Riders Council and MTA Board member, and Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, said, “We are incredibly grateful to the scores of transit workers who labored day and night to literally get 1, 2 and 3 train service back on track. No easy task, it was a Herculean effort that allows tens of thousands of riders to resume their commutes and get where they need to go. Without these dedicated men and women, under the leadership of Rich Davey and Demetrius Critchlow, today would be a very different —and inconvenient — day for people trying to go about their Sundays. Even as we await the detailed analysis of what went wrong and why, we know what went right — the resumption of service thanks to the transit workers and supervisors who made it happen. On behalf of New York’s transit riders, Thank You!”

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“Any increase in funding and eligibility for Fair Fares eligibility is welcome news, and we’re glad to see them included in the City budget. We will continue advocating for expansion to 200% of the federal poverty level—a common-sense expansion that has been supported by the City Council, the MTA Blue Ribbon Panel on Payment Evasion, transit and anti-poverty advocates, and riders around the five boroughs. Fair Fares is a critical program that helps New Yorkers in need access reduced transit fares, but many low income riders can’t qualify because of the too-low eligibility criteria that is not reflective of the cost of living in New York City. We thank the City Council and Mayor Adams for coming to an agreement that will expand the program: it’s a drop in the bucket, but every drop helps fill the bucket.”

The post City Budget Helps, Doesn’t Go Far Enough, to Make Fair Fares More Fair appeared first on PCAC.

“Raising the eligibility criteria for Fair Fares to 200% of the federal poverty level—a much more reasonable threshold more representative of the high cost of living in New York City—will help ensure that even more New Yorkers can access more affordable transit fares. This critical program helps low-income New Yorkers with reduced fares on subways and buses, and now the ferries, opening the door to employment, education, and other opportunities, but under the current rules, not enough people in need are able to qualify. We applaud the City Council for including an additional baselined $61.5 million for Fair Fares expansion in their FY2024 preliminary budget response, and urge the Mayor to follow suit. Next step: expanding Fair Fares to the LIRR and Metro-North within New York City, so that low-income New Yorkers can afford lower commuter rail fares!”

The post Fair Fares Would be Even Fairer With Council Budget Proposal! appeared first on PCAC.

“Improving communication and assistance for riders contribute to a better transit experience, so we’re glad that the MTA and Local 100 have come to an agreement that will do just that. Riders—whether they take the train every day or are visiting the city from afar—will be glad to see station agents in their expanded role beyond the booth near turnstiles and MetroCard (and soon, OMNY) machines or on platforms to answer questions and give direction. Station agents are often the first face of the MTA that riders see when they enter the transit system. They know most about the stations and network they work in and around and are best equipped to help navigate the complex system. Having more people on platforms and walking around stations multiple times per shift also offers an extra sense of safety, which is particularly important as the MTA pushes to regain ridership. With their new primary role outside the booth, we look forward to hearing more details about how these underground agents will be trained and redeployed, along with what steps will be taken to provide any additional support and protection they may need.

“This announcement is a great evolutionary step in a more rider-focused approach to service, which we applaud.”

The post Great Steps Towards a More Rider-Focused Approach to Transit appeared first on PCAC.

“At a time when perceptions of safety on transit differ from the reality—shown by data of decreasing crime systemwide—installing cameras in every subway car will help riders feel an extra level of security. With funding from both the federal government and Subway Action Plan money, collected in large part through the For Hire Vehicle Phase 1 congestion pricing surcharge, this announcement is a timely reminder of tangible improvements we’ll continue to see from congestion pricing. With dedicated funding for improvements from this critical revenue source, riders will continue to see investments in and around our trains and buses including safety enhancements, a smoother trip with fewer delays, and an overall more pleasant transit experience. The subway is far safer than many people who have stopped riding may believe, and with more eyes on the system—both from more riders and more cameras—we hope that the perception of safety catches up to the reality.”

CONTACT: Kara Gurl, PCAC: 718-839-3625/ Kara.Gurl@mtahq.org Lisa Daglian, PCAC: 917-612-2292/ LDaglian@mtahq.org

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People with disabilities need better accessibility around our transit system. Currently, many subway stations are not accessible. Even the stations with elevators and escalators often have issues, and may not be accessible when elevators or escalators are out of service or broken. Disabled riders, the elderly, and people with luggage or strollers need accessibility so they can use the subway without going to different stations to complete their trips.

Congestion Pricing will help bring our transit towards an accessible future. The funding brought in by Congestion Pricing will directly fund accessibility improvements like elevators and escalators in stations so that all riders can access almost all stations. There are already plans to make more stations accessible, but we need funding so the projects can be completed. Stations like Mets-Willets Point that often have major events with thousands of people, desperately need to become accessible—congestion pricing will make it happen. It will also help build elevators and other improvements on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North.

Buses are the more accessible way to get around, but they are currently slow. Congestion Pricing will speed up buses by reducing traffic. Buses will no longer be stuck behind slow cars, which will improve commutes for disabled riders. Access-A-Ride will also be improved by Congestion Pricing because trips will be faster with less traffic and congestion.

We know that people with disabilities and emergency vehicles will be exempt from paying the toll. People who still need to drive will benefit from faster trips and less traffic, and everybody will benefit from better air quality.

Accessibility is very important for riders around the region. Congestion Pricing will bring us closer to a transit system that works for everyone, including people with disabilities and the elderly. Our whole city will be better when transit is more reliable, equitable, and accessible, and Congestion Pricing will give the MTA the money it needs for that to happen. Thank you.

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Long before the Environmental Assessment was released, we already knew that Congestion Pricing would drastically reduce traffic, improve air quality, and fund essential public transit upgrades. The document proves this point: with nearly 90% of people who enter the Central Business District getting there without driving, the benefits of Congestion Pricing far outweigh downsides for drivers. Low income and essential workers overwhelmingly ride public transit, and drivers are on average wealthier than transit riders. Those who still choose to drive will be thankful too, when their car trips speed up with fewer vehicles on the road.

All transit riders have experienced “delays due to signal malfunctions” and stations in need of repair, or inaccessible stations without elevators. It’s no secret that work must be done before we have the 21st century transit system New Yorkers deserve. The improvements riders desperately need are on the table in the current and future MTA Capital Plans, but they aren’t going to fund themselves. Congestion Pricing would bring in the money needed to build a more reliable, safe, and resilient transit system, something that our entire region and country will benefit from.

State of Good Repair projects like repairing century-old signals and fixing tracks; accessibility improvements that will bring elevators or escalators to almost all stations; and expansion projects like Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway and the Interborough Express are at risk of delay without Congestion Pricing funding. Our bus network—the slowest in the nation—will speed up when they no longer get stuck in traffic. These transit upgrades would help speed up the commutes of millions of riders around the region who make up the vast majority of people entering Manhattan.

The main purpose of these public hearings is to determine whether Congestion Pricing will meet its main goals: decreasing traffic congestion, improving air quality; and raising $1 billion annually for the MTA’s capital program. The Environmental Assessment proves that Congestion Pricing will do just that, while moving us towards a healthier, more pleasant, and all-around better city. As a longtime rider, I know that Congestion Pricing will vastly improve our transit system and help more people get back on trains and buses. Thank you.

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