NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Transit advocates are hopeful that a Joe Biden presidency could be a boon for New York City’s transportation infrastructure.
As the MTA faces its worst fiscal crisis in history, Danny Pearlstein of the Riders Alliance said there are renewed stimulus talks that could stave off what he describes as the agency’s “doomsday cuts” that include fare and toll increases and service reductions.
If the MTA doesn't get additional funding, Pearlstein said, “It would have to cut service roughly in half, so by 40% on the subway and bus and by 50% on commuter rail.”
Congestion pricing—a surcharge on driving in the busiest parts of Manhattan—could also come sooner under a Biden administration. It has been on hold pending a federal environmental review.
“We really need it more than ever,” Pearlstein said. “Obviously, the MTA needs those funds. Traffic has also roared back on our streets.”
And finally, the long-delayed Gateway Tunnel, carrying Amtrak and NJ Transit trains under the Hudson River, could also become a priority.
“The Trump administration’s hold on the Gateway project was largely understood to be personal,” Pearlstein said. “Given that the president-elect is also popularly known as ‘Amtrak Joe,’ I think there is reason for optimism,” Pearlstein said.