Everything transit riders won in this year’s state budget
In a turbulent and challenging state budget year, riders came together to win monumental changes toward improving the lives of everyday New Yorkers with more convenient and affordable public transit.
At a time when the MTA faces serious fiscal trouble, riders won over a billion dollars to sustain and stabilize our transit system. And for the first time in recent history, we won an unprecedented increase in subway service.
We. Won. More. Service! …Starting. In. Two. Months!
Let’s all take a moment to collectively cheer, do a little dance, raise a glass with your pet chihuahua (I don’t know how you celebrate, no judgment here!). And now we’ll break down exactly what’s in this budget for riders (and what isn’t) and examine what it all means for us now, in the short-term, and moving forward in our continuing work to secure better transit.
1. More frequent subway service, weekends, evenings, and midday
This is essentially the most impactful item for transit riders in this year’s budget, with new subway service frequency improvements being phased in over the next year starting in July with weekend service improvements on the G/J/M lines. Here’s a full description of the service improvement phases:
Phase 1, July 2023: Weekend G/J/M frequency increases to every 8-9 from current 10-11 minutes
Phase 2, August 2023: Weekday midday C/N/R frequency increases to every 8 minutes from the current 10 minutes. Weekend 1/6 frequency increase to every 6 minutes from current 8 minutes
Phase 3, December 2023: Weekday evening C/N/R and weekday midday G frequency increase to every 8 minutes. Weekend 1/6 6-minute frequency hours extended
Phase 4, July 2024: Weekday B/D/J/M frequency increases to every 8 minutes. Weekend 3/5 frequency increase to every 10 minutes
It’s amazing to know the impact of this budget win will be felt on station platforms in less than two months and directly addresses the demands of our campaign to improve off-peak and weekend service. But with this victory comes the sobering reality that bus riders have been completely left out of these frequency increases. This is, of course, unacceptable and will undoubtedly influence the focus of our ongoing campaign work, but that’s not to say bus riders got absolutely nothing...
2. Automated Bus Lane Enforcement is permanent, city-wide, and expanded beyond bus lanes
Included in the budget is an expansion of Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE), cameras mounted on buses that can automatically ticket drivers that violate bus lanes. It’s an incredibly powerful tool that has a tangible effect on bus speeds. I mean, it goes without saying that a dedicated bus lane is only as useful as it is unimpeded by traffic. Giving MTA the ability to automatically ticket violators and keep bus lanes clear is also in lockstep with NYC DOT’s obligation to implement 100+ miles of new bus lanes as a part of the NYC Streets Plan.
And now, for the first time, automated bus cameras will enforce obstructions along bus routes that lie outside the bus lane, including no-standing zones in bus stops, and restrictions on double-parking along bus routes. As we anticipate new busways and bus lanes, expanded automated enforcement will help change an entrenched car culture that has valued the status and convenience of drivers over riders’ time for far too long.
3. $1.1B in new, recurring funding to sustain MTA operations
The MTA has been in danger of fiscal collapse as federal aid that’s propped the agency up through the pandemic has dwindled. With a new increase in the Payroll Mobility Tax (notably only for businesses in NYC, leaving suburban employers off the hook to up their contributions to MTA) expected to generate $1.1B in recurring revenue, for the time being, MTA can operate without resorting to the all but inevitable steep fare hikes, deep service cuts, and mass layoffs it’s warned about for years.
Why it’s so important: with MTA’s budget hole filled, we can now put even more time and effort into securing funding for further service improvements instead of lobbying elected leaders for money to save the MTA while actual transit service quality stagnates or worsens as fares continue to rise.
4. Upcoming fare hike softened to 4% from 5.5%
Speaking of, with the new recurring funding coming into MTA, the proposed fare hike to almost $3 per swipe is being softened to around $2.85. While a fare hike is never reason to celebrate, we can still acknowledge the positives in a smaller-than-expected fare hike. We can also use this moment to further highlight the need for Mayor Adams to step up and utilize his power over the city’s budget to expand the Fair Fares program and allow more people to apply for half-priced MetroCards and OMNY, single-handedly nullifying the impact of the upcoming fare hike for the one million New Yorkers that would be hit hardest amidst the city’s ongoing affordability crisis.
5. Free bus pilot program
And finally, this year’s budget includes funding for a pilot program that would see five bus routes—one in each borough—become fare-free for a year. We’re excited to see how this pilot program can help speed up the selected buses by reducing the time spent idling as riders board and pay in much the same way the indefinitely suspended implementation of all-door boarding would.
But, while free transit is popular policy, we’re mindful of the risk it poses to overshadow impactful measures to improve service. Given the finite resources available, we believe the top priority for transit policy should remain to make service universally fast, frequent and reliable and as useful as possible for all riders and potential riders, not simply free. If riders say we’re tired of paying for slow, unreliable transit, the immediate response from elected leaders shouldn’t be to fix the “paying” part.
That said, with so much impassioned support for this pilot program, we’re hopeful that the legislature’s demonstrated will to invest in affordable transit can translate into further commitments to invest in better transit overall as well.
Looking ahead
With an historic service expansion, faster (and sometimes free!) buses, and congestion pricing officially moving forward with recent federal approval, riders have much to look forward to this year. And honestly, we have ourselves and our growing rider movement to thank. Transit riders have once again proven the power we hold to exert our influence and win material improvements to make this city more equitable and affordable.
There’s, of course, so much more to be done to win better service—especially for bus riders who deserved more from this budget. And together we’ll keep fighting until we get there.
Join our All-Member Meeting on May 25 at 6pm to debrief the state budget and discuss our next steps for expanding Fair Fares!