The MTA is hopeful that president-elect Joe Biden’s administration will help it recover from pandemic-related losses. But watchdogs are wary.

Right now, the MTA is preparing a budget for next year, and it's short the $12 billion in federal relief aid it needs to prevent drastic service and job cuts.

Nicole Gelinas with the Manhattan Institute says Biden has plans for things like zero-emissions transportation, but the MTA needs help with a dramatic drop in ridership that will take years to recover from.

"I don’t think we can be complacent or think that there’s a guarantee that the MTA is going to get what it needs in terms of operating aid," she said.

The MTA says if a Biden administration allows congestion pricing to move forward, that alone could generate $15 billion for the agency.