In less than four years, the MTA could be looking at a nearly $900 million funding shortfall as spending outpaces fare revenue, according to a new analysis from the Citizens Budget Commission, which recommends cutting the workforce to close the gap.
The budget watchdog recommends sweeping job cuts to positions that it argues technology has made obsolete. The budget commission suggested the MTA allow its trains to run with just one worker, instead of two.
Train lines that have new computer-based signals, like the L and the 7, are already fully automated, as are the announcements on the trains. While the conductor opens and closes the train doors, the operator has few other duties, which include hitting a button every 20 seconds to signal they are alert. The budget commission cited the operator’s limited responsibilities as a sign the job could be cut with no impact to service…