Pols say Cuomo veto of free bus transfers is un-fare
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s veto of legislation that would have allowed more than one free transfer for commuters taking multiple Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) buses and trains will hurt hard-working New Yorkers in the pocketbook, lawmakers charged.
On Monday, Cuomo vetoed the bill, citing high costs. The legislation, approved by the state Legislature in June, called for riders in remote areas of the city to be able to get two free transfers if they took, for example, two buses and a train to get to work or school. Under current MTA rules, only one free transfer is permitted, no matter how many buses and trains a person takes within a two hour window.
“The MTA estimates it would cost approximately $40 million annually to provide a second free transfer, yet the bill does not provide any funding to account for this expense,” Cuomo wrote in his veto message.
The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-Southwest Brooklyn) and Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz (D-Bronx).