Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) send a letter to the New York City MTA President Andy Byford opposing any fare increase. “I am outraged with the fare increase proposal and I strongly oppose the MTA’s fare increase. First what the MTA must do is to gaze inside itself and stop wasting the taxpayer’s money. The MTA’s bureaucracy has had no accountability. It has been much disorganized, and that has to stop.”

Colton stated, “The NYCTA panel was created so that nobody would control it, for the simple reason that nobody wanted to take responsibility. The MTA must ensure that wasteful past policies will be corrected. Any proposal for an additional infusion of monies to the MTA and NYCTA must include 1) Reforms of transparency in the governing structure, 2) Increased accountability in how such monies are spent and 3) a stop of the proposed fare increase. The fare increases have in the past have consistently caused a reduction in ridership.”

“Before any fare increase is to be considered there must be a financial plan ensuring the MTA has a dedicated funding source, which includes how the money will be spent. The MTA has to restructure the board to make it more transparent and responsive to the public needs of affordable and efficient public transit. Therefore, the MTA cannot consider any fare hikes until all of the above will be corrected. I am circulating the petition to stop the MTA from any fare increase. I will continue to oppose any increase without accountability,” said Colton.