Mayor Adams to Appoint Four MTA Board Members who Actually Use Public Transit

By Yehudit Garmaise

 

Mayor Eric Adams can choose four representatives of the 23-member board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to consider fare and toll increases, determine changes to service, and oversee the agency’s $18.7 billion annual budget, and he has said those board members will regularly ride public transit, and not drive cars, to get around the city.

“We have several names we’re looking at, and we’re analyzing, and I think all of these guys and ladies should not be in cars, they should get MetroCards,” Adams said in Brooklyn two days ago, as he pointed out that a number of people in charge of the state’s public transit network do not regularly ride the city’s subways, buses, and commuter trains.

“If you really want to improve the system, ride the system,” said Mayor Adams, AMNY reported. “I think far too many people are making decisions for various parts of these agencies and institutions, and they’re not part of them.”

Rider advocates agree that that there are no better transit representatives than longtime subway and bus commuters. 

For instance, advocates point out that the mayor’s picks can use their positions to speak up for the city in useful and positive ways.

In 2018, for example, after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo wanted to spend $1 billion beautifying subway stations without installing elevators or improving service, former Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg generated opposition to his plan and spoke up for the city.

“She raised the alarm, and they were able to delay that project going forward and cast some light on it,” said Danny Pearlstein, the policy and communications director of Riders Alliance, who added that Mayor Adams should propose an essential worker, such as a healthcare worker, and someone with a disability, to serve on the MTA’s board.

Victor Calise, who served as former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commissioner of the Office for People with Disabilities, uses a wheelchair, and who has advocated for improving the subway’s accessibility for New Yorkers with disabilities, was successful in influencing the MTA to pledge, in its current five-year capital plan, to build elevators in 70 subways stations, although the city has 472 stations.

In addition, board member David Jones, who runs the Community Service Society advocating for low-income New Yorkers, led 2019 city program called “Fair Fares,” which provides half-priced MetroCards to commuters, who can find applications online, at or below the federal poverty line.

“By sitting around that boardroom table, asking the tough questions, and occasionally pointing out a reality check, [regular transit users] can make sure that the right issues at least get the attention they deserve,” Pearlstein said.