Fare evasion costs the MTA $700 million a year, and the MTA says the problem is worst on buses where an estimated 40 percent skip out on paying the fare. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) MTA Gets Full Funding as Hochul Finalizes Budget, but It Counts on Feds Paying All of Penn Costs April 28 saw an early-evening update from Gov. Kathy Hochul about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and it was the... News 03 May 2025 | 09:40
Some state and local officials were coming up with plans on how to spend the money that the MTA could save now that the federal government is taking over the rebuilding of Penn Station. But the Trump administration is now saying they don’t plan to foot the entire bill. ( Photo: MTA) Not So Fast: Trump Admin Says It’s Not Footing Entire Cost to Renovate Penn Station When the Trump administration seized control of plans to renovate Penn Station, Gov. Hochul said New Yorkers had won a major... News 28 Apr 2025 | 12:20
Congestion pricing tolls on Second Ave. and E. 60th St.–and all tolls charging (most) vehicles $9 to enter lower Manhattan during peak hours–remain operational, despite the Trump administration seeking to force Gov. Hochul and the MTA to turn them off on April 20. ( Photo: Patricia Walsh) Congestion Tolls Stay On, Feds Threaten Highway Funds Congestion pricing tolls are still being collected, the MTA says, after the federal government sought to unilaterally shut... News 21 Apr 2025 | 05:08
The federal government wants to take over the long-stalled Penn Station redevelopment plan, taking over from the MTA. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly) Feds Take Over Penn Station Renovation Plan The Trump administration took over planning for the renovation and possible expansion of Penn Station, shoving the MTA aside... News 20 Apr 2025 | 07:30
Mayor Eric Adams shakes hands with the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy before embarking on a two stop subway “tour” on the B Line on April 4. Duffy, who had earlier called the subway system a “shithole” apparently did not change his tune after the ride with hizzoner. ( Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) MTA’s Lieber Vs Trump’s Transport Sec Duffy On April 4, US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, rode our subway system on a mysterious ride with Mayor Eric Adams,... Voices 17 Apr 2025 | 03:18
Governor Kathy Hochul, speaking at a Congestion Pricing Rally on March 21, has sent a letter to top Republicans in the Trump administration calling for the state to receive its “fair share” of federal mass transit funds. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy wants Hochul to turn off the congestion pricing cameras. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Hochul Pleads for More Fed Funds for MTA; US DOT Pushes to End Congestion Pricing Tolls It looks like a standoff. Top elected Democratic leaders in New York in late March pleaded with the federal government for... News 02 Apr 2025 | 05:14
Flagbearer waves to crowd at 264th St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Ave. on March 17. ( Photo: Heather Stein) Wet Weather Does Not Dampen Spirits at St. Patrick’s Day Parade There was a little bit of everything surrounding the 264th St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17. It kicked off with an early-morning... News 24 Mar 2025 | 10:35
On her way to attend a congestion-pricing rally at West 14th Street and Ninth Avenue, Gov. Kathy Hochul rode the M14D bus with regular passengers and media representatives. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Trump’s DOT Head Rips Hochul Handling of Subways, Calls System a ‘Shithole’ A day after Gov. Kathy Hochul said she didn’t have to go to war with the federal government over the congestion-pricing question,... News 24 Mar 2025 | 01:20
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church on Seventh Avenue and West 30th Street would be spared now that Gov. Hochul no longer wants to demolish the city block where it sits to accommodate an expanded Penn Station. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly) Hochul’s Retreat on Penn Station Expansion Will Spare Entire Block from Demolition Gov. Kathy Hochul pulled the rug out from under Amtrak’s hope to double the capacity of Penn Station by tearing down the... News 22 Mar 2025 | 05:38
Grand Penn Alliance’s chief architect, Alexandros Washburn, who led the creation of the Moynihan Train Hall, outlines the plan for a new Penn Station that would move Madison Square Garden across Seventh Avenue and in its place create a green park leading to the nation’s busiest rail hub. ( Image: Michael Oreskes) New $7.5B Penn Plan–This One Pushed by Trump Allies The time has come to make Penn Station great again. That not particularly subtle message to Donald J. Trump—who routinely... News 15 Mar 2025 | 09:35
Mayor Eric Adams calls reporters “liars,” as he leaves a press conference at Bellevue Hospital Feb. 18 , where an NYPD office had been taken after getting shot. He refused to answer questions about his embattled administration, which saw four deputy mayors resign. Calls are growing for him to resign. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly) Adams Still Feeling Pressure Even After Hochul Says She Won’t Force Him Out Turmoil continued to swirl around Mayor Eric Adams even after Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would not take the unprecedented... News 24 Feb 2025 | 03:15
A visibly angered Gov. Kathy Hochul addresses the demand by the Trump Administration to cease the New York Congestion Pricing program. ( Photo: Office of NYS Governor) Hochul Fires Back after “King” Trump Pushes to End Congestion Pricing It is all out war over congestion pricing after President Donald Trump’s Department of Transportation issued an edict to... News 23 Feb 2025 | 06:56
The MTA wants to buy 435 more of the subway cars known as the R211s. Pictured here is the inaugural ride of the first R211A subway to enter customer service, from 207 St on the A line on Friday, Mar 10, 2023, taken at 145th Street in Manhattan. As of 2027, there were be 1610 Kawasaki-built R211s, including the open-gangway cars, the single unit R211A as pictured here. ( Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA) Cameras Will be in 435 New Subway Cars that MTA Wants to Buy for $1.27B–But Only If New Budget Gets OK The good news: at its last board meeting of 2024, the MTA tentatively approved a $1.27 billion contract to purchase 435 new... News 03 Jan 2025 | 01:35
Governor Kathy Hochul (left) chats with local lawmakers including Assembly members Tony Simone (rear) and Linda Rosenthal and NYS Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal after the Nov. 14 announcement that she is “unpausing” congestion pricing toll. All three lawmakers are supportive of the toll that Houchul plans to start on Jan. 5. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly) Hochul “Unpauses” Congestion Pricing; Seeks to Start Jan. 5 with $9 Toll It is a race against time as Governor Kathy Hochul unpaused congestion pricing tolls below 60th St in Manhattan, setting... News 16 Nov 2024 | 05:52
A rendering of the planned 2nd Phase of the Second Avenue subway extension, which can resume inching forward after Governor Kathy Hochul announced $54 million in state funding for the project. The price tag was previously covered by congestion pricing, which she indefinitely paused. ( Photo: MTA ) Stalled Second Avenue Subway Expansion Inches Forward, After $54M State Allocation The Second Avenue subway expansion project will resume again, after Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she had managed... News 31 Jul 2024 | 06:46
