As many as 150 station could be affected by deep service cuts, including four stops that will be shuttered at night, under a nightmare budget scenario being considered by the MTA, the Daily News reported today.
The proposed cutbacks, which have been circulated among community boards, would amount to "a full-scale assault on the convenience and safety of the riding public at a third of the system's 468 subway stations," Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign told the News. "In many cases, the cuts would force riders to enter through scary, unstaffed stations entrances."
Late night service on the N line would cease at four stations: City Hall, Rector Street, Cortlandt Street and Lawrence Street. The N would travel over the Manhattan Bridge between the hours of 11 pm and 6 am. Customer service agents would also be cut back under the proposal which is expected to be ratified by MTA committee today and voted on by the full MTA board on Wednesday.
The proposed hikes would be canceled if the MTA adopted a bailout crafted by former MTA honcho Richard Ravitch that includes a payroll tax and tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges.
