MTA to spend $50M on 5 free bus routes across NYC, boosted subway service

[Kamaji]

MTA to spend $50M on 5 free bus routes across NYC, boosted subway service

By Nolan Hicks
July 17, 2023

Come on and take a free ride!

Five Big Apple bus routes will be free starting in late September, in part to monitor ridership numbers on transit lines with high fare evasion.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s troubleshooting plan is part of a $50 million state pilot pushed hard by progressives in Albany.

The funding also boosts the number of trains running on the No. 1, No. 6, C, N and R trains by 20 percent during the middays and on weekends.

“The MTA is the lifeblood of New York City, and I’m proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made in returning ridership to pre-pandemic levels,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“By establishing these fare free bus pilot routes, we are expanding access to public transportation across the city and improving transit equity to better serve all New Yorkers.”

The free bus service, which is expected to serve 43,900 daily weekday riders, will last for at least six months with a price tag of $15 million, while the bolstered subway service will cost approximately $35 million.

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/07/17/mta-to-spend-50m-on-5-free-bus-routes-across-nyc-boosted-subway-service/

[Kamaji]

Those buses will remain free in perpetuity.

[GtHawk]

Shouldn't that actually read MTA Taxpayers to spend $50M on 5 free bus routes across NYC, boosted subway service

[Kamaji]

Shouldn't that actually read MTA Taxpayers to spend $50M on 5 free bus routes across NYC, boosted subway service

True enough.