Budget Group Urges MTA Staff Cuts

The Citizens Budget Commission projects that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will face a funding shortfall of nearly $900 million by 2030. The report recommends drastic workforce reductions to close the gap between rising expenses and fare revenue.

The organization suggests that the MTA allow trains to run with one operator instead of two. The report states that computerized signaling systems on the L and 7 lines have already made the second position largely obsolete. On those lines, the operator primarily presses a button every 20 seconds to confirm alertness while the driver handles doors.

Eliminating operator positions on the L and 7 lines would save $36.5 million annually. If the MTA gradually removed the requirement for two people to operate trains across the entire system, the agency could save $500 million each year. The commission estimates that all proposed reforms could generate $2.5 billion in annual savings.

New signaling systems are currently being installed on the A, C, E, F, G, M, and R lines. Those routes currently require two people to operate the trains. The report argues that legally mandated staffing levels prevent the MTA from modernizing and capturing efficiency gains as technology improves.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 is currently negotiating a contract with the MTA for 40,000 subway and bus employees. John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union of America, stated that these recommendations have been made for decades. He described the proposal as a way to offset alleged deficits at the expense of workers.

In 2025, the state legislature attempted to pass a law requiring two MTA employees on every train. Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed the bill, leaving open the possibility of single-operator trains in the future. The MTA plans to publish its 2027 financial plan in the coming weeks, which includes a 4 percent increase in fares and tolls. The board will vote on the plan in December.

The commission acknowledges that the MTA has become more efficient in recent years. The agency reported saving $576 million this year through operational efficiencies. However, the report claims that without cutting labor and healthcare costs, the MTA faces a $300 million deficit next year that will grow to $900 million by 2030.

The report also suggests cutting more than 1,000 jobs at Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road to save $380 million annually. It recommends that MTA retirees pay higher healthcare premiums, which could generate an additional $315 million per year. The commission also proposes reviewing tickets before boarding on commuter trains to reduce the need for conductors to walk through cars.