Elected Officials Support "Move NY Plan" to Improve Transit Service WITH Expanded Full-Line Reviews and Funded Capital Plan

Elected Members of the A and C Train Working Group Urge Full-Line Reviews Across the System Once Every Five Years

Electeds: Move NY Plan Allows Improvements that "Make A Difference in Commuters' Lives"

NEW YORK – A coalition of State and City elected officials who worked together as part of the A and C Train Working Group wrote a letter to Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Heastie, urging support of the Move NY Fair Plan -- to improve transit service with expanded Full-Line Reviews, as well as fund the MTA capital plan. The letter was signed by State Senator Squadron; Assemblymember Mosley; Manhattan Borough President Brewer; State Senators Espaillat and Hoylman; Assemblymembers Gottfried, Rosenthal and Simon; and Councilmembers Chin, Cumbo, Johnson, Levine and Richards. Riders Alliance organized the A and C Train Working Group that led to the ongoing A and C Full-Line Review, and also supports this effort.

The Move NY Fair Plan significantly reduces tolls on currently tolled bridges including the Verrazano, Throgs Neck, Whitestone, RFK, Henry Hudson and Rockaway bridges. New tolls on the four East River Bridges and the 60th Street cordon would be collected with E-ZPass (there would be no tolls imposed on the Harlem River bridges), and the plan could raise $1.5 billion in net revenue annually for public transportation.

The elected officials call the proposal a "promising" way to improve transit service with a funded capital plan and expanded Full-Line Reviews: "It will allow for implementation of the improvements that make a significant difference in commuters’ lives: trains that run more frequently and break down less often, countdown clocks that allow riders to know when their trains will arrive, public address systems that can alert riders to changes in service, and other important improvements that are overdue in New York."

In the last few years, Full-Line Reviews, created in collaboration between Senator Squadron and the MTA, have resulted in more on-time trains and newer and cleaner subway cars along the F line beginning in 2009, increased service along the L line beginning in 2012, and improved service along the G line in 2014. Most recently, it was announced that an A and C Train Full-Line Review would be released before year's end.  

The elected officials' letter explains that implementation of Move NY must have clear outcomes for riders: "The MTA should review service on every subway line once every five years, and must have the resources necessary to enact the review’s recommendations."

Please find the full letter attached.