MTA should eliminate some jobs to prepare for budget woes, watchdog writes

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) may face a significant funding deficit of nearly $900 million within the next four years, as projected spending is set to exceed fare revenue. This forecast comes from a recent study conducted by the Citizens Budget Commission, which has proposed workforce reductions as a potential solution to mitigate this financial shortfall.

The Citizens Budget Commission has put forth recommendations for substantial job cuts, particularly in positions that they believe have been rendered unnecessary by advancements in technology. Among their suggestions is the idea of allowing trains to operate with a single employee instead of the current two. Some train lines, such as the L and 7, already utilize computer-based signaling systems and are fully automated, with announcements also being managed electronically. Currently, while conductors are responsible for opening and closing train doors, operators have minimal tasks, primarily needing to press a button every 20 seconds to indicate their alertness. The commission highlighted the limited role of operators as justification for potential job eliminations without affecting service quality.

The report estimates that cutting operator positions on the L and 7 lines could result in annual savings of approximately $36.5 million. If the MTA were to implement a system-wide shift to single-operator train operations, the savings could reach up to $500 million each year.

As the MTA continues to upgrade signaling systems on other lines, including the A, C, E, F, G, M, and R lines, these routes still require two personnel for train operations at this time.

This proposal arrives at a critical juncture, as the Transport Workers Union Local 100 is currently in negotiations for a new contract covering its 40,000 subway and bus employees. The MTA is anticipated to unveil its financial plan for the coming year shortly, which is expected to include a fare and toll increase of 4%. The MTA board is slated to vote on this financial plan in December.

John Samuelsen, President of the Transport Workers Union of America, criticized the Citizens Budget Commission’s recommendations, stating, “The same recommendations have been coming down for dozens of years, so there's nothing new about it. It's essentially a recommendation to balance alleged deficits that the MTA has off the backs of working people.”

Last year, the state legislature attempted to codify a requirement for two MTA employees on each train, but the bill was vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul, keeping the door open for the possibility of one-person train operations in the future. The Citizens Budget Commission’s report argues that mandated staffing levels hinder the MTA's ability to modernize and take advantage of technological advancements that could lead to improved operational efficiency and financial savings.

While acknowledging that the MTA has made strides in efficiency—reporting $576 million in savings this year through “operating efficiencies”—the commission warns that without addressing labor and healthcare costs, the MTA will face a budget gap of $300 million next year, which could escalate to $900 million by 2030. The commission projects that its proposed reforms could achieve annual savings of $2.5 billion.

Additional recommendations from the report include enhancing fare collection processes on commuter railroads by verifying tickets before boarding, which would reduce the necessity for staff to conduct onboard checks. The Citizens Budget Commission estimates that eliminating over 1,000 positions on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road could save around $380 million each year. Furthermore, the report suggests that increasing healthcare premiums for MTA retirees could generate an additional $315 million annually.

In response to the report, MTA spokesperson Mitch Schwartz acknowledged the progress made in achieving operational efficiencies, stating, “The CBC is right to note that we've made extraordinary progress in securing hundreds of millions of dollars in new recurring operational efficiencies.” However, he did not address the specific job elimination proposals put forth by the Citizens Budget Commission.