Hello and thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Brian Fritsch and I am the Manager of Advocacy Campaigns at Regional Plan Association.

I want to start by expressing our sincerest gratitude to the MTA for continuing to operate during the current crisis and to convey our deepest condolences to the MTA family for those that have passed away. The bravery and fortitude of the many MTA workers who need to continue to help get our essential workers to work and back home every day is incredibly appreciated.

Public transportation is the backbone of the region’s economy and it is more important than ever to fund our public transit systems and keep them running during this crisis, so our front line workers can get to their jobs. To stop the spread of COVID-19 we needed people to stay home and off the system. This led to drastic declines in transit ridership and a stark financial picture for the MTA. Without reliable public transit, New York’s economy will not continue to function during this crisis and it will take us much longer to recover when it has passed.

That’s why RPA is currently engaged in rallying support around the greater NYC region to support the MTA’s push for additional Federal funds to support the MTA’s operating expenses as soon as possible. The MTA leadership recently made a clear ask to our Congressional leadership and it is incumbent on Congress to act now. In the CARES Act the MTA only received 15% of the funding despite carrying 40% of the nation’s public transit riders. We demand that this inequity is rectified soon.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.