MTA Chair Faces Student Press Pool

By Rory Grant

The space was reserved for discussions around mass transportation but it was evident this was not the typical setting of a MTA press conference. Sitting, not standing, at a large rectangle table was the MTA's Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. Lieber faced a press pool that was calm and collected. They did not jam microphones in his face, or shove one another aside while yelling questions. This was a group of student journalists who were there to properly and professionally represent the voices of New York's young people.

The death of teenagers who attempted “subway surfing”, stunts on the roof of subway cars, was first addressed. What were some next steps the MTA is taking to combat the rise of subway surfing, journalists wondered.

Lieber looked sullen as he answered. "Most of the teens, younger teens, this is something that seems to be attractive to 12 to 15 year olds, riding on top of subway cars,” he said. “This is not a playground."

Lieber would highlight the impact of social media on the trend and what the MTA was trying to do to combat it. 

"The fact that kids are losing their lives in an effort to compete for eyeballs on social media is insane, and that's why we have been going to social media companies [and] said, you must take down all those videos, we need you to take it down right away. And they said, yes,” Liber explained about social media companies. “Although we have to monitor them aggressively and make sure they don't drop the ball."

"So I'm appealing to you not just as young journalists, but as New Yorkers and people of conscience, if you hear this stuff that is going on, please, please do what you can to make sure that folks understand how serious it is and how deathly dangerous it is."

A second topic of importance to student journalists was the issue around student transportation. This past school year had been the first one with the implementation of the Student OMNY Program, as part of the MTA's plan to modernize from the MetroCard. 

Previously, students had access to three rides per day between 5:30 am and 8:30 pm, only on weekdays. After dealing with years of student complaints, one of the enticing benefits was the OMNY card's four rides per day, at any time, any day of the week. 

The new OMNY cards were not without their issues however, as the student journalists were quick to address. When one student brought up the lower quality of the paper-based Student OMNY cards, Lieber highlighted the importance of getting them out on time. 

 “We were determined to get [the student cards] done before the school year began, so that was a little bit of a compromise in terms of the materiality of the physical OMNY card. Compromises were made."

While Lieber was "thrilled with how [the program] turned out", he also mentioned the MTA's plan to eventually move the Student OMNY program to an app.

"Our friend is the DOE, we have to work with them. We want to have it happen next year. I think it may have to be one more year, but I think within two years we will have it,” answered Lieber. “We know kids occasionally lose MetroCards and OMNY cards and don't lose their phone frequently."

When asked about delays in receiving and replacing the cards, Lieber stressed that the New York City Public School system was responsible.

"There's a limit to how much you can ask the MTA to do. We're not operating the schools. The MTA cannot become the agent of managing what goes on inside the schools, about the distribution. It's not our jurisdiction, and we're going to continue to rely on the Department of Education who is accountable for student transportation."

Despite the shortcomings on those Student OMNY card issues, Lieber made it clear that the MTA was in a very solid place.

"The subway service, I know every one in you has waited for a train and cursed the MTA at some time, but subway service right now is the best it's been in 15 years. Metro North is running the best service in terms of performance they ever have. Metro North last year was over 98% on time performance, Long Island Railroad 96%. This year [Long Island Railroad] is pushing 97%."

With an expansive 2025-2029 MTA Capital Plan and the Amtrak Hudson Tunnel Project (as part of the larger Gateway Program), rail in and around the city seems to be proliferating. 

This press pool, perhaps more than any other press gathering, is of vital importance to the MTA. Young people do not have many alternatives to get around the city, unlike adults with drivers licenses or legal access to ride-sharing apps. Public transportation is a true necessity to them.

It remains to be seen how that future pans out. However if the plans laid out by Lieber do unfold then urban transportation in New York City will be at unprecedented levels.