Janno Lieber

The MTA completed a project to add elevators to Brooklyn's Borough Hall subway station, making it accessible for disabled riders. The project, delayed by structural work on the over-100-year-old station, included ceiling reconstruction and other upgrades. Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA officials celebrated the completion, which addresses accessibility under the ADA.

MTA officials, including Janno Lieber, stated the agency is prepared for severe rainfall with pumping equipment and emergency measures, though they acknowledge challenges from climate change and overwhelmed sewer systems. Social media videos showed subway flooding during recent storms, prompting calls for long-term infrastructure investment.

The MTA is preparing for potential subway flooding as severe weather with heavy rain is expected in the tri-state area. National Weather Service forecasts up to four inches of rain, with peak rates of two inches per hour.

Brooklyn's dollar vans frequently stop in bus lanes, prompting the MTA to urge the city to remove them. The MTA Chair, Janno Lieber, has long advocated for stricter enforcement against the vans, which compete with MTA buses for fares.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and MTA Chair Janno Lieber have collaborated on a plan to speed up bus service, despite differing views on free buses. The MTA expressed renewed faith in the Mamdani administration after years of criticizing former Mayor Eric Adams for stalling bus lane projects.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his commitment to making city buses both fast and free, despite a new 51-page plan titled 'Next Stop' that focuses solely on improving bus speeds. The plan, developed with state and MTA officials, includes a $900 million initiative to reduce trip times on 50 priority routes but omits any mention of eliminating bus fares, a key campaign promise. MTA Chair Janno Lieber expressed skepticism about free fares, advocating instead for expanding the Fair Fares discounted program.

The MTA will install elevators at five Brooklyn subway stations to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, funded in part by congestion pricing revenue. The project, costing over $100 million, is part of a broader effort to make 20 stations accessible and includes upgrades like platform repairs and fare arrays.

The City Council is expanding the Fair Fares program to raise eligibility for half-priced OMNY cards, allowing minimum-wage workers to qualify for the first time. The MTA supports the expansion, highlighting outreach efforts and the program's role in reducing transit costs for low-income New Yorkers.

Andy Byford, with transit experience in multiple cities, is leading Amtrak's plan to rebuild Penn Station as part of the Trump administration's initiative. He has sought support along the East Coast but has not secured a meeting with MTA Chair Janno Lieber.

The MTA has introduced new R211 trains on the D line, replacing older R68 models from the 1980s. The R211s feature wider doors, digital displays, and improved reliability. The new trains have a significantly higher mean distance between failures compared to the R68s and are part of an ongoing fleet upgrade.

MTA NYC Transit is piloting electronic fare enforcement using handheld devices with EAGLE Teams to combat fare evasion on buses, transitioning from MetroCards to the OMNY tap-and-pay system. The agency is testing this 'European style' model primarily on Select Bus Service routes to verify fare payments and issue summonses.

The MTA is piloting a new fare enforcement model on express buses using handheld devices to validate OMNY payments, shifting focus from local routes. The transition aims to train staff and prepare for broader implementation, with challenges including limited technology and personnel.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging the MTA and Amtrak to collaborate on rebuilding Penn Station, following the Trump administration's push for the project. MTA Chair Janno Lieber stated there is no disagreement with Hochul on handling the initiative.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber accused the Trump administration of attempting to deceive the agency over the Penn Station redevelopment plan, citing a lack of MTA involvement since the project was taken over by federal authorities. Lieber criticized the Trump Department of Transportation and Amtrak's selection of a master developer and disputed the need for the MTA to sign a Memorandum of Agreement that would relinquish control over part of the station.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber criticized Amtrak's Penn Station reconstruction plan as 'bizarre' and refused to become a partner. Lieber raised concerns about Amtrak's oversight of the project.

Amtrak senior adviser Andy Byford, previously NYC Transit President, urged the MTA to collaborate on the Penn Station rebuild. Byford resigned in 2020 during a public dispute with Andrew Cuomo and stated in a letter that the federal government will proceed with the project regardless of MTA cooperation.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials broke ground on the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway, extending the Q line to East Harlem with three new ADA-compliant stations. The $6.9 billion project includes tunnel boring starting in early 2024 and aims to connect 125th Street to Park Avenue, benefiting 100,000 residents. Funding includes a $1.97 billion contract and $60 million in federal reimbursements.

New York politicians including Congress Member Jerry Nadler criticized President Donald Trump's federal takeover of Penn Station, accusing the administration of secretive negotiations with private developers. They demanded transparency after the Trump administration named a private consortium as the 'master developer' for the $8 billion renovation project.

MTA and Amtrak officials addressed recent fires at Penn Station causing service disruptions. MTA's Janno Lieber criticized Amtrak for 'unacceptable' incidents, while Amtrak's Gerhard Williams called them 'anomalies' unrelated to infrastructure.

North America's largest commuter rail system shut down due to a worker strike, affecting over 250,000 daily commuters in the New York City area. The Long Island Rail Road ceased operations after five unions walked off the job, seeking fair wages amidst record inflation. The shutdown is expected to cause significant disruptions to commuters and sports fans alike.

Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike, leaving 330,000 commuters without service, after negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke down over a proposed fourth-year wage increase. The strike is the fourth in the rail line's history and has caused severe congestion and delays across the region. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the strike as 'reckless' and 'unacceptable'.

Long Island Rail Road workers have gone on strike, paralyzing the busiest commuter rail system in North America, affecting roughly 250,000 daily riders. The strike is due to a dispute over wages between labor unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Workers are demanding a total raise of 16% over four years.