Uptown Council Member Rodriquez And Others Stand With TWU Workers Call For Full Train Services

Today, uptown Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the Transportation Committee and Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams stood alongside the Transit Workers Union (TWU).

Including Speaker Corey Johnson, The Office of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Council Member Daneek Miller, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Riders Alliance, and Council Members to support the TWU’s lawsuit against the MTA to restore the C and F train services to pre-pandemic levels.

The lawsuit comes after the MTA moved to enshrine service cuts to both lines initially made last summer, which many fear could lead to an increase in crowdedness on platforms, and greater difficulty maintaining social distancing.

Ridership has been steadily increasing in recent months: on Friday, March 12th, 2021, the MTA recorded the highest single-day ridership since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Press Conference will take place 2 hours before the MTA is scheduled to testify at the Council’s Transportation Committee Preliminary Budget Hearing.

The reduction of services has also caused many MTA employees to either be reassigned or experience changes to their work schedules.

The TWU argues in its lawsuit that the MTA is disregarding its legal duty to maintain the public’s safety and convenience.

Elected officials and advocates will be demanding that the MTA immediately restore the C and F train services for the safety of all riders and employees.

I am proud to stand alongside the Brooklyn Borough President, TWU, Speaker Johnson, and my colleagues in government supporting the Union’s lawsuit demanding that the MTA restore the C and the F train services. As we begin seeing a steady increase in riders returning to our subways, we need to make sure that our trains are running consistently and reliably to avoid crowded platforms

“I am proud to stand alongside the Brooklyn Borough President, TWU, Speaker Johnson, and my colleagues in government supporting the Union’s lawsuit demanding that the MTA restore the C and the F train services. As we begin seeing a steady increase in riders returning to our subways, we need to make sure that our trains are running consistently and reliably to avoid crowded platforms,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the Transportation Committee. “The MTA is constantly reminding us that their main priority has been to keep riders safe. Crowded subway platforms will only jeopardize the health of straphangers and transit workers. I look forward to working with the MTA, TWU, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Speaker Corey Johnson, and my colleagues in government to ensure that we bring back our subway services safer and better than ever.”

“We have a long way to go for our transit system to fully recover from the pandemic, but the picture looks better than it did even a few months ago, with federal aid on the way and ridership increasing. That is why we must speak out against any service cuts in the system. We support the lawsuit by the TWU to reverse service cuts made last summer on the C and F lines. With our recovery process underway, now is not the time to cut service underserved New Yorkers rely on,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“It’s time to restore the C and F train lines to pre-pandemic service levels and stop hurting the people who rely on these lines with reduced service. Subway ridership has been steadily increasing as more New Yorkers return to work and we need to provide those riders with adequate service levels on all lines so they can commute safely. I stand with Transport Workers Union Local 100 in its fight to end these service cuts and help our city recover,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

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Video Statement from Council Member Daneek Miller, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus.

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Video Statement from Burgos-Veras, Organizing Manager for Riders Alliance.

“The MTA’s cuts to C and F train service are draconian,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “This is a time when transit riders need as much space as possible for social distancing. Furthermore, we are trying to invite riders back to the system and show how transit can lead the way in our recovery. Service cuts will cause more harm to our transit system and I applaud the TWU for taking action against this counterintuitive decision.”

“Service cuts to the F train have affected so many of my constituents who rely on robust public transit to get to work, school, medical appointments, and more,” said Council Member Adrienne Adams, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus. “As more and more riders return to the subways, they should not be riding in packed trains and waiting on overcrowded platforms. That’s why I urge the MTA to restore service and ensure that our essential transit workers have the support they need to serve our straphangers.”

“New York City has a large transit-dependent population, the same New Yorkers who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The MTA’s reduction of service on the C and F lines adds another layer of hardship for people who are already struggling, as well as jeopardizing public health by creating more crowded subway cars and stations on these train lines,” said Council Member Fernando Cabrera. “While service reduction made sense and was necessary when New York City was the pandemic epicenter, we are not in the same place. Subway ridership is increasing, but maintaining safe distancing is still advised. I stand with the Transit Workers Union and my colleagues in the New York City Council in calling on the MTA to adhere to its legal responsibility to maintain public safety and immediately restore C and F train Services”