NEW YORK – US Senator Richard Blumenthal says Metro-North is facing an existential crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it a “fiscal tsunami” and is urging Congress to provide relief for the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
The MTA released a budget proposal earlier this month that says it is considering laying off more than 9,000 employees amid a $ 12 billion shortfall. and a budget crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the MTA Board will vote on the plan in December.
Blumenthal said he will tell Congress that rail service will be shut down without funds.
Our sister network NBC New York reported that plans include a 40% reduction in all subways and a 50% cut in service along Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, which could leave passengers waiting. 20-30 minutes by train during peak service hours.
“As we are required to enact a balanced budget and the feds have yet to act on another COVID-19 relief package that would aid mass transit, we are moving forward hoping for the best but preparing for the worst,” said MTA spokesman Ken Lovett. “If federal aid comes in that amount, we will adjust our spending plan accordingly.”
US Senator Richard Blumenthal held a press conference outside the Metro-North station in West Haven with the president of the MTA Metro-North Railroad, Catherine Rinaldi, and union representatives to ask Congress to provide relief to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority .
Rinaldi said the MTA does not want to cut the service and asked Congress for funds.
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