""We need at least a 15-percent increase in state operating assistance in order for the Upstate systems to address their structural budget deficits. What that means is we need that 15-percent increase so that we are not faced with having to reduce service. We're not faced with having to increase fares.""
""A bump in funding would allow me and other regional transit heads to invest further in their services, rather than make cuts, as they lament stagnant funding from the state and a lack of a dedicated revenue source that can keep pace with inflation.""
""The Capitol District Transportation Authority serves six counties in and around Albany, and is considered one of the most successful upstate transit services after expanding services in recent years, actually outpacing its pre-Covid ridership.""
""The cost of that expansion, however, coupled with natural cost drivers like labor and supplies, means that the authority has been cutting and adjusting its services even amid high popularity.""
Upstate public transit authorities are at risk of cutting services due to insufficient state funding. Lawmakers are advocating for increased State Operating Assistance, with the Senate proposing a 15-percent increase and the Assembly a 7.4-percent increase, both exceeding the governor's 5.8-percent proposal. Miguel Velázquez, CEO of the Regional Transit Service, emphasizes the need for a 15-percent increase to avoid service reductions and fare hikes. Some transit authorities are already adjusting services despite high ridership due to rising operational costs and stagnant funding.
Read at Streetsblog Empire State
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