MANHATTAN — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will review a series of service cuts at their budget and finance meeting on Monday in an attempt to plug a $343 million budget shortfall, the Daily News reports.
The W subway line, which runs from Queens to lower Manhattan, and Z line, a rush hour train that also runs from Queens to lower Manhattan, both face elimination, according to the paper.
Additional bus routes would also be closed and two subway lines would be closed over night.
After he took over as MTA chief in November, Jay Walder announced he would not allow any service changes, but an Albany budget cut of $143 million and an unforseen revenue shortfall of $200 million may force the cuts.
The MTA targeted low ridership lines that are near other forms of transportation in order to have a small impact on straphangers, according to News.
Despite the attempt to cut lines with the least impact, rider advocates and transit union officials say any budget cuts should be made institutionally, and not transferred to the public.
"Before the MTA takes any action that adversely affects riders or workers, they should look to cut their own wasteful spending," said John Samuelsen, president-elect of Transport Workers Union Local 100, to the paper.
