This year had some of the worst MTA service in decades — and it may get worse. That's because the agency is facing a looming funding crisis, since fare box and advertising revenue is down.
The agency is projecting a funding gap of $112 million in 2020, which is expected to spike to almost $500 million by 2021. Many board members don't want to increase fares in 2019, so the agency is looking for a different revenue stream.
Here are some of the current proposals:
1. Congestion Pricing
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to outline his congestion pricing plan in next week's State of the State address. While Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt at this failed, but there is growing support for tolls on the East River bridge crossings into Manhattan's central business district. Even Uber, which has been criticized for adding to the city's congestion, is running ads in the city in support of the plan.
“Everyone — whether using a personal vehicle, delivery truck, taxi or Uber — should pay their fair share to keep New York City moving forward. Advocating for a comprehensive congestion pricing solution that funds mass transit is Uber’s top priority in Albany this session," wrote Uber spokeswoman Alix Anfang in a statement.
Hayley Richardson, who's with the think tank Transit Center, sees congestion pricing as "the only real solution to New York's transportation crisis, because it provides funding for the MTA and addresses the congestion that has become unsustainable." Her group is also urging the governor to stagger implementation of his plan and make sure there are strong transit alternatives — like improved bus service — when it does go into effect.
The group Move NY also has a congestion pricing plan that it says would generate $1.4 billion a year.
But Mayor Bill de Blasio has called congestion pricing a regressive tax on the poor. Any successful plan would need buy-in from the city, because the Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the East River bridges.
2. Millionaires Tax
De Blasio has his own plan which he unveiled in July, known as the Fair Fix plan or millionaires tax. He wants to increase the city's highest income tax rate by .5 percents on taxable incomes above $500,000 for individuals — or $1 million for couples. With these funds, he'd offer half-priced MetroCards to 800,000 low-income New Yorkers and give $800 million annually to the MTA for repairs.
To implement this, he'd need help from the legislature in Albany, which hasn't given any indication that it's interested.
"We’ve proposed an actual plan. We’ve yet to see a proposal from the governor," said Austin Finan, a spokesman for the mayor.
3. Rider Relief Plan
The Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), also known as the Democrats in Albany that tend to vote Republican, have come up with their own plan, which includes diverting some of the $7 billion in New York City's sales tax revenue to pay for the MTA's Subway Action Plan. MTA Chairman Joe Lhota has asked the city to pay half of his $836 million plan. So far the city has refused.
The IDC also wants to raise funds by putting speed cameras in front of every school in the city.
"Rather than divert money from our schools and police, the state should return to our subways the $450 million it’s diverted from the MTA," de Blasio spokesperson Freddi Goldstein wrote in a statement in response.