State Rep. Matthew Slater has criticized the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for its repeated fare and toll increases, calling them harmful to suburban residents. In a statement, Slater said, “The incessant, never-ending need for the MTA to raise fares and tolls is a slap in the face to suburban New Yorkers. Let’s not forget, Gov. Hochul has already implemented the congestion pricing tax and increased the MTA payroll tax on suburban workers. Allowing these fare and toll hikes on top of these tax increases will prove what we have said all along: that the MTA is a bottomless pit and the worst-run authority in the nation.”
Slater also pointed out financial losses at the agency. “Meanwhile, the MTA continues to lose more than $700 million annually to fare evasion and its projects, like the G line, are expected to come in $91 million over budget. The failures of the MTA continue to add up and the suburbs continue to be the target,” he said.
He called on Governor Kathy Hochul to take action before approving any further increases in fares or tolls. “Gov. Hochul must finally initiate an independent audit of this cancerous agency before any fare or toll is raised a penny. Suburban families are being crushed by New York’s affordability crisis and we can’t afford a do-nothing governor.”
The issue comes as suburban communities express concern about rising costs associated with public transportation management in New York.
