Coronavirus Update: MTA Moves To 'Essential Service Plan' In Face Of Reduced Ridership, Crew Shortage
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The MTA has announced service cuts because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Facing reduced ridership and crew shortages, the agency says it will be running on what they're calling an "essential service plan."
"This reduced schedule preserves service for the heroes on the front lines of this crisis across New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North," MTA CEO Pat Foye said. "Ridership has sunk to never-before-seen lows. Subway ridership down by a startling 87 percent, buses by more than 70 percent, Metro-North by 94 percent and the Long Island Rail Road over 71 percent."
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Starting Wednesday, trains will be running on something like a Saturday schedule. The rush hour schedule on subways is expected to remain unchanged.
The essential service plan for buses will begin on Thursday, and the plan will go into effect for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North on Friday.
Under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "New York State on PAUSE" order, New Yorkers should only use public transportation when absolutely necessary.
CORONAVIRUS: NY Health Dept. | NY Call 1-(888)-364-3065 | NYC Health Dept. | NYC Call 311, Text COVID to 692692 | NJ Health Dept. | NJ Call 1-(800)-222-1222 or 211, Text NJCOVID to 898211 | CT Health Dept. | CT Call 211
The MTA also says they're requesting $4 billion in federal grants due in part to the significant drop in farebox and toll revenue and the cost of intensive disinfecting efforts.