T.A. in the News

“The millions of New Yorkers who rely on the bus and subway need public transit that is reliable and affordable,” the public rail and bike advocacy group Transportation Alternatives said Tuesday.

 -- "Transportation Alternatives wants MTA to restore all service cuts transit authority made in 2010" New York Daily News, 7/24.



 
Take Action to Stop the Fare Hike!
There may be a fare hike in 2013, after State legislators blew $260 million of New York City’s public transit budget. One man can save our buses and subways, and he sits at the big desk in Albany: Governor Andrew Cuomo. But will he hear us? It's up to you.

At Transit Rider Town Halls across the city, T.A. hears from countless New Yorkers who depend on public transit. Everyone agrees: We pay more and get less. With State Assembly members and senators raiding New York City's public transit budget, T.A. is rallying New Yorkers to a higher power. Tell Governor Cuomo to stop the fare hike.

Can average New Yorkers get the governor's ear? Yes, according to last week’s announcement by the MTA. For two years, outraged New Yorkers demanded service restored to the 128 bus and subway routes affected by service cuts in 2010. Because thousands spoke up, the MTA announced last week that one-third of service will be restored.

With that success as our guiding light, we’re going to fight the fare hike. Take action now: Ask Governor Cuomo to stand up for an affordable fare on your bus and subway.

TAKE ACTION

Sign the “Stop the Fare Hike” petition.

After you’ve signed, share the petition with your social network and forward it to your e-mail contacts.




 
The Bus and Subway Bait and Switch

Lorna Welshman-Neblett has been campaigning
to restore full service to the QM21 Bus route.
Service was reduced in 2010, but wasn't
included in last week’s restorations.
Image courtesy Andrew Hinderaker
Last week, State legislators executed a sweeping bait and switch: At a packed board meeting, while the MTA waved a shining prize for the audience -- restoration of bus and subway service on one-third of the 32 bus routes and 570 bus stops axed two years ago -- State legislators ushered an exorbitant fare hike in the back door.

It was the greatest misdirection since the Brooklyn Bridge was first bought and sold. A fare hike disguised by a modicum of transit service restored; New Yorkers were supposed to be placated. It didn’t work.

The service restorations were a smoke screen for the fiscal disaster behind door number two: thanks to State legislators’ theft of a cool $260 million of New York City's public transit budget, a fare hike is coming soon.

Even the good news was half-hearted. New Yorkers will get some -- not all -- of the bus and subway service they used to have. The announced restorations only return one-third of former service. While an extension of the G Train and restored service on the Bx36 Bus will ease transit burdens in Park Slope, Brooklyn and Fordham, Bronx, transit riders in Red Hook, Rochdale and Whitestone -- and scores of other neighborhoods -- remain stranded.

Don’t be tricked by the State Assembly and Senate's bait and switch. There are fewer buses and subways, and you’re being asked to pay more for less. Take action, and then read on to find out how else you can be involved in the fight against the fare hike.



 
What to Expect When You Swipe

Image courtesy Andrew Hinderaker
There’s a fare hike looming, and it’ll mean a big hole in the wallets of the 7.5 million New Yorkers who ride the bus or subway every day. If all you know about public transit is how to swipe, T.A. has a step-by-step guide to the fare hike, what it’ll cost you and how you can fight for New York City’s buses and subways:

Transit Rider Town Halls
In the neighborhoods most affected by service cuts, T.A. has organized scores of Transit Rider Town Halls. We take local elected officials off the soapbox and into the community to hear how public transit affects their constituents. To fight the fare hike, we’re expanding our Transit Rider Town Halls citywide. Want to talk to your elected officials? Let Ya-Ting Liu, T.A.’s Director of Transit Advocacy, know what bus and subway lines you rely on.

T.A. Members Fight the Hike
The most important action that you can take to fight the fare hike is to become a T.A. member. T.A. members help put on-the-ground transit organizers in every New York City neighborhood, and ensure T.A. can continue to fight on your behalf for more affordable, reliable bus and subway service. Plus, T.A. members get great benefits, like discounts at hundreds of New York City retailers and invites to exclusive events, film screenings and panel discussions. Join T.A. as a member today and stop the hike.

It Costs How Much?!
One thing to know about the fare hike is that New Yorkers can expect a big jump in the cost of their MetroCard. Your wallet will be responsible for the $260 million pilfered by State legislators. We don’t yet know how much fares will rise, but T.A. can guarantee commuters will be the hardest hit. The most important thing to know about the fare hike is that you can fight it: Stand up against the fare hike.