The continued ongoing fare evasion on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City (NYC) Transit bus, subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Rail Road in 2024 will come close to matching the loss of $700 million in 2023. This is made worse by adverse impacts to both the MTA capital and operating programs as a result of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul placing congestion pricing on pause. This has blown a $15 billion shortfall in the MTA's $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan.
It is time for the MTA to join elected officials to launch a full-scale marketing campaign to shame those deadbeat riders into paying their fares. Advertising panels should be placed both outside and inside buses with the words, "If you don't pay your fare, this bus might not be there.”
The same advertisements should be posted at all subway and commuter railroad station platforms, along with inside every subway and commuter rail car. Public service announcements should be made on all buses, subway and commuter rail cars reminding riders that if everyone doesn't pay their way, the bus, subway or commuter rail train you are currently riding might not be there tomorrow. Your waiting time for the next bus, subway or commuter rail train may be longer than you like.
Public service announcements should run on all radio and TV stations. Full page ads should be placed in every weekly and daily newspaper. All elected officials should include this information in any future constituent newsletters. When speaking at any public forum, elected officials need to instill in the audience the importance of paying their fare.
NYC District Attorney's need to work with the MTA and enforce the law. Taxpayers and honest commuters who pay should not have to tolerate this theft of service.
City Hall, Albany and Washington are not going to continue providing billions annually to the MTA when year after year, they refuse to put their own fiscal house in order, including dealing with fare evasion.
A significant reduction in fare evasion during 2024 could raise several hundred million more in revenue. The technology exists to punish fare beaters. Failure to pay tickets issued by police should be deducted from any future city, state or federal tax refund. Other government benefits paid for by taxpayers should also be withheld.
The MTA, including NYC Transit bus and subway, MTA Bus, Long Island and Metro-North Rail Roads, need to do a better job in dealing with fare evasion.
It is unfair to keep asking commuters to pay a higher fare and continue to see so many who routinely go unpunished for not paying their fare.
Larry Penner
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for New Jersey Transit, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC Transit bus, subway and Staten Island Railway, Long Island and Metro North railroads, MTA Bus, NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry along with 30 other transit agencies in New York and New Jersey.
