The MTA bleeds cash at commuters expense: Letters to the Editor Oct. 30, 2026

The Issue: The MTA’s budget deficit widens despite fare hikes and its rising congestion-toll take.Not a day after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects a $900 million budget deficit by 2030, we read that congestion pricing isn’t reducing auto traffic (“We’re Still $tuck in traffic!,” Oct.28).“Congestion pricing” was only ever a moniker to trick the public into believing traffic would decrease.

Gov.Hochul and the MTA always intended it to be a money grab.But does the public realize it is paying the MTA surcharges on taxi and for-hire cars and commuter railroads, as well as a business-franchise tax, a corporate tax and phone service fees?Each of these taxes was created under the guise that they’d help the MTA reach financial stability.

But it never does, and it keeps raising fees.We can’t vote out the MTA, but we can vote out the accidental governor who lacks competence and integrity.John BrindisiManhattanBecause of the placement of the MTA license-plate readers at the 59th Street entrance ramp of the Queensboro Bridge, Roosevelt Island residents who have no other option but to use the Queensboro Bridge to return home are being hit with a congestion toll — even if they have no intention of entering the zone south of 60th Street.This toll is a crushing financial burden and makes no difference in traffic.I urge the governor and MTA chief Janno Lieber to rethink this punishment and have compassion for the unique geography of our neighborhood.Shamecca RuizRoosevelt IslandHow can the MTA say with a straight face that it has a budget deficit and at the same time lose $500 million each year to fare evasion?My advice to Lieber is to get his own house in order before penalizing commuters for his incompetence.Robert GrecoMilford, Pa.Congestion pricing was supposed to save the MTA — where is all that money going?This agency desperately needs auditing by Elon Musk’s DOGE.James PanzoBrooklynLieber is the next person we have to fire because he...