Under the MTA budget proposal presented to the agency’s board on Wednesday, the weekend subway service could be cut in about half and more than 9,000 transport workers could lose their jobs.
M.T.A. The potential cuts could be reduced if the transportation agency receives $ 12 billion in receipts from the federal government as part of the new COVID-19 relief package, according to Ken Lovett, a senior adviser to the company.
The MTA board will vote on the management’s proposal in December and lawyers are warning that cuts are coming without federal help.
“Riders will have to face an unforeseen cut until the Fed arrives,” said Lisa Duglian of the Permanent Advisory Committee, MTA’s in-house advocacy group.
“MTA will not be able to get out of this situation without disastrous riders and expansion of the region and economy. We need help and we need it now. ”
MTA’s subways and buses will suffer the consequences of planned downsizing, with more than 2,000 jobs lost between the two branches of service.
Sources said the two combined budgets would be subject to more than ૧ 1.1 billion in cuts, which would contribute to the proposed 0% reduction in weekly subway services.
According to sources, about આઇ 250 million and about 1,000 workers will be lost under the Long Island Railroad and the Metro-North Railroad – MTA-operated commuter railroads scheme.
Overall, the proposal cuts services by more than .4 1.4 billion, although actual savings at the bottom line of the MTA are expected to be somewhat lower – 3 3 1.3 billion.
Tony Utono, president of the Transport Workers’ Union Local 100, rejected the budget proposal and called on the MTA to come up with a new plan.
Utono, who represents 40,000 transport workers, said in a statement that the MTA’s budget proposal is an aggressive and cowardly dedicated coronavirus, and a slap in the face to every transport worker.
“Go back to the drawing board and come up with real solutions. Throwing thousands of workers down the street and leaving the entire neighborhood without service is not the answer. ”