Riders Alliance Statement on Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address

“Governor Hochul’s proposed Interborough Express would dramatically improve access to the city for millions of people in Brooklyn and Queens. It’s a major advance toward transit equity and a critical tool in the fight against climate change. The governor should maximize its value to New Yorkers with frequent and affordable service and connections to high speed, high capacity bus routes to neighborhoods far from the subway.

“Congestion pricing was ‘an idea whose time has come‘ five years ago. With transit ridership down and traffic gridlock up, congestion pricing is now more urgent than it has ever been. Governor Hochul must ensure that the MTA and its tolling contractor get congestion pricing done as quickly as possible to deliver the reliable, accessible subway, the clean air and safe streets that all New Yorkers deserve.

“Last year, New York riders won an unprecedented tens of billions of dollars in federal aid and infrastructure funds to save and improve public transit. Governor Hochul joined Senator Schumer last fall to postpone fare hikes and service cuts. In this year’s state budget, the governor and legislature must take fare hikes off the table for at least five years and move toward increased rather than reduced service to meet riders’ new and growing needs.”