JSA2026 NYS Fixing New York’s MTA: Fair Fares, Honest Management, and Better Transit for All
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Fixing New York’s MTA
Fair fares, honest management, reliable power — and safe subways riders can trust.
“Transit isn’t just about trains. It’s about fairness, power, and safety. Riders can’t be the ATM for mismanagement—or the collateral for disorder.”
The Problem: Broken Trust & Rider Punishment
- Seven fare hikes since 2009; riders pay more while service lags.
- Debt overhang north of $40B — interest eats a huge share of the operating budget.
- Cost overruns and delays (e.g., East Side Access) erode credibility.
- Subway disorder: assaults, fare evasion, and untreated mental-health crises undermine confidence.
- Stations and tunnels are vulnerable to floods; outages strand families and workers.
Bottom line: New Yorkers are paying more for less — and safety failures make it worse.
Subway Safety & Enforcement
- Transit Presence that Moves: +2,500 NYS Transit Safety Corps officers assigned to platforms and trains. “Safe Car” policy: at least one officer per trainset during rush and late night.
- Homeless & Mental-Health Response Teams: Pair Transit Bureau with licensed clinicians at major hubs (Penn, Grand Central, Jamaica, Atlantic, Fulton). Repeat crisis calls trigger diversion to shelter or psychiatric care within 2 hours.
- Fare-Evasion & Disorder Crackdown: Target top 25 hubs; chronic evaders and serial offenders referred as repeat cases to DAs. Station agents have a direct line to a Transit IG for whistleblower protection.
- Subway Crime Task Force: Permanent NYS-funded unit focused on violent offenders and serial theft/assault patterns; data-driven deployment + DA coordination for swift prosecution.
- Design for Safety: Full-coverage CCTV integrated with NYS fusion center; anti-jump turnstiles; LED relights in stairwells/platforms by 2027; blind-spot fixes published station-by-station.
- Audit Outreach Dollars: Audit every nonprofit funded for subway outreach; shift to performance-based contracts. Programs that don’t reduce disorder lose funding.
Compassion + consequences: We help the vulnerable, ban the predatory, and make every ride predictable and safe.
Reliable Power for Reliable Transit
- Traction Power Doubling: Upgrade substations, feeders, and breakers on priority corridors to eliminate voltage sags and boost train throughput.
- Dedicated Clean-Firm Supply: Site 2–4 GW of downstate clean-firm power (via Nuclear NY) to stabilize MTA load and lower bills.
- Microgrids & Storage: Battery banks and sectional microgrids at critical interchanges to ride through grid events.
- Station Solar & Efficiency: LED relighting and ventilation retrofits cut load and improve safety.
- Real-Time Power Ops Dashboard: Publish traction power availability, outage causes, and fix-by dates riders can track.
Power is policy: Clean, 24/7 supply + hardened traction equipment = fewer delays, safer platforms, and lower costs.
Fair Fares: Pay for What You Use
- Distance-Based Pricing (OMNY): Tap-in/tap-out; short trips cost less, longer trips priced fairly.
- Daily/Weekly Caps: Automatic caps protect frequent riders — like London’s Oyster.
- Expanded Fair Fares: Lower-income discounts auto-applied in OMNY with simple eligibility.
- Transfer Equity: Integrate bus/subway/commuter rail caps for true regional mobility.
- Transparency: Publish a fare simulator so riders can see exactly what they’ll pay before traveling.
Oversight & Efficiency: Results or No Bonuses
- Independent Annual Audits: Third-party audits of finances, payroll, capital; all posted to a public Transparency Portal.
- Executive Accountability: Freeze bonuses until on-time performance and budget targets are met.
- Consolidation: Remove duplicative layers across NYC Transit, LIRR, Metro-North; redirect savings to fare stabilization.
- Rider Watchdog Board: Commuter reps from every borough and region with pre-vote review power on budgets and fare changes.
- Open Contracts: Real-time dashboards of bids, change orders, and delivery milestones.
New Revenue — Without Punishing Riders
- Leasing & Retail: Activate underused real estate and mezzanines for retail, kiosks, and events.
- Night Freight Pilots: Limited off-peak freight partnerships on select corridors where safe and feasible.
- Ad & Sponsorship: Modernize ad inventory (digital) and station sponsorships with content standards.
- Congestion Pricing to Fares: Dedicate a defined share to a ring-fenced Fare Stabilization Trust.
- Energy Savings Recycle: Savings from efficiency and clean power PPAs flow directly to fare relief.
Flood & Climate Resilience
- Dutch-Style Barriers & Pumps: Gate critical entrances; upgrade pump capacity and redundancy.
- Green Drainage: Curbside bioswales and storage under plazas to keep runoff out of stations.
- Real-Time Alerts: Live station-status map with flood sensors; automatic reroute suggestions.
- After-Action Deadlines: Public fix-by dates and progress photos for flooded locations.
Day One Orders & First 100 Days
- Day One (Safety): Stand up the Subway Crime Task Force; deploy Safe Car officers on late-night lines; begin top-25 fare-evasion hub enforcement.
- Day One (Care): Clinician + Transit Bureau co-response at four hubs; publish diversion protocols; announce psych-nurse hiring incentives with SUNY/CUNY partners.
- Day One (Accountability): Freeze executive bonuses; publish audit engagement letters; announce Rider Watchdog Board formation.
- First 60 Days: Release distance-based fare bill & OMNY tap-out pilot corridors; publish fare simulator.
- First 100 Days: Identify top-50 power bottlenecks; start substation/feeder upgrades; launch flood-hardening at the 20 most-at-risk stations; publish station-by-station blind-spot/lighting plan.
Transparency & Metrics Riders Can See
Service & Safety
- On-time performance by line
- Assaults & major crimes per million rides
- Fare-evasion rate & enforcement outcomes
- MH diversions: shelter vs. psychiatric care
Fares & Equity
- Average fare by trip length
- Caps used / riders protected
- Fair Fares enrollment
Money & Projects
- Contracts, change orders, overruns
- Energy spend vs. savings
- Flood & lighting/CCTV projects: status & photos
Discover more from JSA NYS Gov. 2026
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