File Photo
According to the MTA, the agency spends $1 million per month on private security guards to deter subway fare evasion. Currently, no guards are posted on buses.
By Michael V. Cusenza
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) lambasted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday as the agency’s leader testified before the council’s Transportation and Public Safety committees.
Ariola unleashed a series of tweets responding to remarks regarding fare beating made by MTA President of Subway and Bus Systems Richard Davey.
“We are hearing testimony about a lack of ridership on MTA buses, but I think the real problem here might be a lack of PAID ridership,” she wrote. “The MTA is talking about placing gate guards in subway stations but what about the buses? Anyone who’s ridden a bus lately can tell you that people just aren’t paying their fares. Lack of payment means the MTA thinks ridership is down—something reflected in new bus route drafts.
Photo Courtesy of NY City Council
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola
“MTA President Richard Davey just said during City Hall testimony that 30-percent of bus riders are not paying their fares. Even this number seems low. Clearly, more enforcement needs to be done here,” Ariola added. “This seems like a problem to me.”
The councilwoman ended her thread with a question for the embattled agency.
“Hey MTA just so I understand correctly, we are paying 200 subway security guards a total of $1M per month – that breaks down to $5K per guard per month. An annual salary of $60K. An MTA cop’s starting salary is $44K. Wouldn’t we be better off just hiring more police?” Ariola asked.
Davey said that the agency could lose as much as $500 million in revenue due to fare evasion this year.
