Report urges MTA to cut staff

The Citizens Budget Commission issued a report on Sunday calling for drastic workforce reductions at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The agency faces a projected funding gap of nearly $900 million by 2030 as operating costs outpace fare revenue. The report suggests eliminating the role of the train operator on specific lines to close the deficit.

The commission argues that modern signaling technology has rendered the operator position obsolete on certain routes. On the L and 7 lines, trains already function with a single crew member due to computerized signaling systems. While the conductor still opens and closes the doors, the operator has few remaining duties. Their primary responsibility is pressing a button every 20 seconds to confirm they are alert.

The report cites these limited duties as evidence that the position can be removed without disrupting service. Eliminating operator posts on the L and 7 lines would save $36.5 million annually. If the MTA gradually reduces all system trains to single-crew operations, the commission estimates annual savings of $500 million.

New signaling equipment is currently being installed on the A, C, E, F, G, M, and R lines. These routes still require two crew members to operate trains. The MTA plans to publish its 2027 financial plan in the coming weeks. That plan includes a 4% increase in fares and tolls. The board will vote on the budget in December.

The recommendation arrives during contract negotiations between the MTA and Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union. The union represents 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 MTA deficits at the expense of workers.

State legislators attempted to mandate two employees on every train in 2025. Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed that bill, leaving the option of single-person operation open for the future. The commission's report states that legally mandated staffing levels prevent the MTA from modernizing and capturing efficiency gains as technology improves.

The commission acknowledges that the MTA has become more efficient in recent years. The agency saved $576 million this year through what it calls operational efficiencies. However, the report claims that without cutting labor and healthcare costs, the agency faces a $300 million deficit next year. That gap is expected to grow to $900 million by 2030.

The commission estimates that its suggested reforms could save $2,500 million annually. Other recommendations include speeding up fare collection on commuter trains by checking tickets before boarding. This would reduce the need for staff to walk through cars. Cutting more than 1,000 jobs at Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road could save $380 million per year. Raising healthcare premiums for MTA retirees could generate an additional $315 million annually.