Janno Lieber

The mayor's 2025 campaign pledge to make NYC buses free has not been implemented, but riders have stopped paying fares, leading to increased fare evasion. MTA Chair Janno Lieber attributes the rise in fare evasion to this pledge.

Subway delays are worsening, with the MTA highlighting solutions planned for 2050. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber stated the agency is working to improve delays.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber has managed the nation's largest transit system for five years, navigating the system out of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing congestion pricing despite challenges.

The MTA is installing vending machines in 26 subway stations to replace vacant retail spaces, with CC Vending, Inc. selected to operate the kiosks and Coca-Cola providing initial food and beverages. The initiative aims to improve rider convenience by offering snacks, beverages, and other products in stations like 2nd Av on the F line and Atlantic Av-Barclays Center.

The MTA is developing software updates to enable OMNY tap-and-pay users to view real-time balances and transfers, a feature previously available with MetroCards. Riders have expressed frustration over the lack of immediate access to fare caps and trip details since OMNY's full rollout in December 2024.

The MTA and disability rights advocates settled a decade-long lawsuit over elevator accessibility in subway stations. The settlement requires the MTA to improve notifications for elevator outages, add signage for alternate routes, and provide mandatory accessibility training for employees.

MTA boss Janno Lieber blamed Mayor Zohran Mamdani's 'free bus' promises for a spike in fare evasion that caused paid ridership to drop 7.7% in June.

The MTA faces growing budget deficits over the next four years as rising healthcare and fuel costs outpace fare revenue. Projected deficits will increase from $295 million in 2027 to nearly $900 million in 2030, driven by factors like a 100% rise in healthcare benefits and stagnant farebox revenue growth.

The MTA plans to address subway bottlenecks affecting B, D, N, R, Q, 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains in Brooklyn through two projects funded by its 2025-2029 Capital Program, aiming to reduce delays. The projects target interlocking issues at DeKalb Av station and merging conflicts near the Manhattan Bridge.

The MTA has settled a decade-long lawsuit with disability advocates over subway elevator maintenance, achieving a 98% in-service rate for lifts. The settlement requires nearly all subway and Staten Island Railway stations to be made accessible by 2055, with over $7 billion allocated for accessibility upgrades. The agreement includes improved public alerts for elevator outages and follows a 2023 court-approved resolution.

The MTA's Park Avenue Viaduct structural replacement project was completed 60 months ahead of schedule and $195 million under budget. The $765 million effort replaced 196 bridge structures and over 12,600 feet of railroad tracks, enhancing reliability for the 1.8-mile corridor that supports 750 trains and 260,000 daily passengers.

The East Harlem Park Avenue Viaduct, a 133-year-old Metro-North rail structure, was rebuilt five years ahead of schedule using prefabricated bridge units and custom gantry systems, completed without disrupting passenger service. The project, under a $200 million budget, was led by Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA officials, emphasizing innovation and efficiency.

The MTA completed a project to add elevators to Brooklyn's Borough Hall subway station, making it accessible for disabled riders. The project, delayed by structural work on the over-100-year-old station, included ceiling reconstruction and other upgrades. Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA officials celebrated the completion, which addresses accessibility under the ADA.

MTA officials, including Janno Lieber, stated the agency is prepared for severe rainfall with pumping equipment and emergency measures, though they acknowledge challenges from climate change and overwhelmed sewer systems. Social media videos showed subway flooding during recent storms, prompting calls for long-term infrastructure investment.

The MTA is preparing for potential subway flooding as severe weather with heavy rain is expected in the tri-state area. National Weather Service forecasts up to four inches of rain, with peak rates of two inches per hour.

Brooklyn's dollar vans frequently stop in bus lanes, prompting the MTA to urge the city to remove them. The MTA Chair, Janno Lieber, has long advocated for stricter enforcement against the vans, which compete with MTA buses for fares.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and MTA Chair Janno Lieber have collaborated on a plan to speed up bus service, despite differing views on free buses. The MTA expressed renewed faith in the Mamdani administration after years of criticizing former Mayor Eric Adams for stalling bus lane projects.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his commitment to making city buses both fast and free, despite a new 51-page plan titled 'Next Stop' that focuses solely on improving bus speeds. The plan, developed with state and MTA officials, includes a $900 million initiative to reduce trip times on 50 priority routes but omits any mention of eliminating bus fares, a key campaign promise. MTA Chair Janno Lieber expressed skepticism about free fares, advocating instead for expanding the Fair Fares discounted program.

The MTA will install elevators at five Brooklyn subway stations to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, funded in part by congestion pricing revenue. The project, costing over $100 million, is part of a broader effort to make 20 stations accessible and includes upgrades like platform repairs and fare arrays.

The City Council is expanding the Fair Fares program to raise eligibility for half-priced OMNY cards, allowing minimum-wage workers to qualify for the first time. The MTA supports the expansion, highlighting outreach efforts and the program's role in reducing transit costs for low-income New Yorkers.

Andy Byford, with transit experience in multiple cities, is leading Amtrak's plan to rebuild Penn Station as part of the Trump administration's initiative. He has sought support along the East Coast but has not secured a meeting with MTA Chair Janno Lieber.

The MTA has introduced new R211 trains on the D line, replacing older R68 models from the 1980s. The R211s feature wider doors, digital displays, and improved reliability. The new trains have a significantly higher mean distance between failures compared to the R68s and are part of an ongoing fleet upgrade.

MTA NYC Transit is piloting electronic fare enforcement using handheld devices with EAGLE Teams to combat fare evasion on buses, transitioning from MetroCards to the OMNY tap-and-pay system. The agency is testing this 'European style' model primarily on Select Bus Service routes to verify fare payments and issue summonses.

The MTA is piloting a new fare enforcement model on express buses using handheld devices to validate OMNY payments, shifting focus from local routes. The transition aims to train staff and prepare for broader implementation, with challenges including limited technology and personnel.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging the MTA and Amtrak to collaborate on rebuilding Penn Station, following the Trump administration's push for the project. MTA Chair Janno Lieber stated there is no disagreement with Hochul on handling the initiative.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber accused the Trump administration of attempting to deceive the agency over the Penn Station redevelopment plan, citing a lack of MTA involvement since the project was taken over by federal authorities. Lieber criticized the Trump Department of Transportation and Amtrak's selection of a master developer and disputed the need for the MTA to sign a Memorandum of Agreement that would relinquish control over part of the station.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber criticized Amtrak's Penn Station reconstruction plan as 'bizarre' and refused to become a partner. Lieber raised concerns about Amtrak's oversight of the project.

Amtrak senior adviser Andy Byford, previously NYC Transit President, urged the MTA to collaborate on the Penn Station rebuild. Byford resigned in 2020 during a public dispute with Andrew Cuomo and stated in a letter that the federal government will proceed with the project regardless of MTA cooperation.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials broke ground on the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway, extending the Q line to East Harlem with three new ADA-compliant stations. The $6.9 billion project includes tunnel boring starting in early 2024 and aims to connect 125th Street to Park Avenue, benefiting 100,000 residents. Funding includes a $1.97 billion contract and $60 million in federal reimbursements.

New York politicians including Congress Member Jerry Nadler criticized President Donald Trump's federal takeover of Penn Station, accusing the administration of secretive negotiations with private developers. They demanded transparency after the Trump administration named a private consortium as the 'master developer' for the $8 billion renovation project.

MTA and Amtrak officials addressed recent fires at Penn Station causing service disruptions. MTA's Janno Lieber criticized Amtrak for 'unacceptable' incidents, while Amtrak's Gerhard Williams called them 'anomalies' unrelated to infrastructure.

North America's largest commuter rail system shut down due to a worker strike, affecting over 250,000 daily commuters in the New York City area. The Long Island Rail Road ceased operations after five unions walked off the job, seeking fair wages amidst record inflation. The shutdown is expected to cause significant disruptions to commuters and sports fans alike.

Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike, leaving 330,000 commuters without service, after negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke down over a proposed fourth-year wage increase. The strike is the fourth in the rail line's history and has caused severe congestion and delays across the region. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the strike as 'reckless' and 'unacceptable'.

Long Island Rail Road workers have gone on strike, paralyzing the busiest commuter rail system in North America, affecting roughly 250,000 daily riders. The strike is due to a dispute over wages between labor unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Workers are demanding a total raise of 16% over four years.