Subway Record Seekers Put Fare Hike Focus On Cuomo

Transportation Alternatives' team of record seekers, Stefanie Gray, Meredith Sladek and Stevie Summerise, fell short of their goal to visit all 468 subway stations in less than 22 hours, 52 minutes and 36 seconds. But these advocates won a bigger victory: shining a spotlight on the need for Governor Cuomo to save New Yorkers from a looming fare hike.

"Our intrepid team won where it counts by letting the entire city know that Governor Cuomo can save New Yorkers from yet another round of fare hikes," said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "New Yorkers can't endure endless fare hikes while the State Government sits on its hands--or worse, picks the MTA's pocket. It's time for the Governor to invest in the transit network that drives our regional economy and makes New York City's way of life possible."

Since 2009, state elected officials have stolen a total of $260 million from dedicated transit funding. The ongoing transit funding crisis saddles New Yorkers with the highest fare burden in the nation. Albany's scheme to finance the MTA Capital Plan, which makes necessary station and track repairs, with massive debt will only increase pressure to continue to raise the fare.

This past summer, Transportation Alternatives launched a petition (www.stopthefarehike.com) calling on Governor Cuomo to stop next year's fare hike by investing in public transit, gaining over 16,200 signatures so far. The Race to Stop the Fare Hike began on Tuesday at 12:37 pm at the 34th Street -- Penn Station on the Seventh Avenue Line.

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