MTA Ridership Down; Job Loss, Economy Blamed
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Straphangers are calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to do more with less even though ridership is down for the first time since 2003.
MTA officials say the number of people riding subways and buses was down across the board nearly three percent in 2009.
That's more than 63 million fewer trips than the previous year.
Officials blame the weakened economy and job losses.
The decline spells further trouble for the MTA as it struggles to overcome a nearly $400 million budget gap.
Agency officials say they will have to consider more cutbacks, but straphangers say now is not the time.
"Here we are in the midst of an economic downturn, and people are flocking to the transit system. So the idea of making them wait longer, would be even more crowded just is insane," said Gene Russianoff of the the Straphangers Campaign.
"Obviously people aren't taking cabs as much. It would be nice to have more trains for people to get around as opposed to less," said one straphanger.
Public hearings on the MTA's proposed service cuts will be held next month.