Since late January when the MTA started hosting public hearings on the Doomsday budget proposals, the future of the transit authority seemed uncertain. Albany had not yet committed to a rescue package, and the MTA Board had to go ahead with what they viewed as necessary cuts. As such, the agency couldn’t hire for numerous positions as they became available, and today in amNew York, Heather Haddon explores how this hiring freeze led to a bus driver shortage.
Basically, says Haddon, Transit has around 230 open bus positions, and it’s going to take them until the summer to address the vacancies. In the meantime, bus service on a few lines around the city will be less frequent than usual. “It would have been fiscally irresponsible for us to have filled positions we would have cut,” Paul Fleuranges, NYC Transit spokesman, said to Haddon.
The free daily also brings news of some permanent bus cuts on the table. Haddon says Transit may “save $4.8 million by scalling back bus trips on 35 routes across the city.” The documents presented to the board call for the agency to “more closely align service with customer demand.” Seventeen routes would enjoy more service as the MTA looks to spend along routes that need the service.