Res 1098-2016

By Council Members Cabrera, Chin, Maisel and Torres Whereas, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is the largest transportation network in North America, which encompasses 5,000 square miles and connects 15.2 million people; and Whereas, According to the MTA, in 2015 5.6 million people used the subway on an average weekday; and Whereas, The MTA has increased the fare for public transportation incrementally, but in the last several years fare hikes have become more frequent; and Whereas, According to an article published by Newsweek in 2015, the pay-per-ride fare in 1995 was $1.50 and did not change until 2003; and Whereas, In 2003 the pay-per-ride fare increased to $2 and the MTA raised the fare again in 2009, 2013, and 2015 where it remains today at $2.75; and Whereas, The MTA has introduced reduced fare programs for senior commuters and disabled commuters, but has not created any fare reduction program for low-income commuters; and Whereas, According to a joint report released by the Community Service Society and the Riders Alliance, 300,000 working poor New Yorkers spend 10% of their family budget on transit expenses; and Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Labor, in March of 2016 New York City had a 5.7% unemployment rate; and Whereas, According to the Community Service Society and Riders Alliance report, one out of three low-income working age New Yorkers said transit fares prevented them from taking a job further from where they live; and Whereas, The report also found that 58% of poor New Yorkers rely on subways and buses to get around the city; and Whereas, According to a New York Times article, from 2013 to 2015 10,000 people were arrested in subway stations because they asked another person to swipe them into the subway; and Whereas, According to a New York Times article, the MTA has estimated that $52 million a year in unused balances is left on cards; and Whereas, According to the Community Service Society report, cities such as San Francisco, London and Seattle have created programs to assist low-income commuters; and Whereas, The MTA would create a means by which MetroCard purchasers could make a monetary contribution to provide low-income commuters MetroCards and the MTA would create a system to collect unused MetroCards to give to low-income commuters; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to create a donation system, which allows purchasers of MetroCards to make a voluntary monetary contribution to a fund for low-income New Yorkers and a means to collect unused MetroCards to donate to low-income commuters. LS# 8167 05-4-16 ER