Matthew Schuerman

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson is threatening to force state legislators to approve a plan to avert the MTA fare hikes that are scheduled to go into effect at the end of May. But WNYC's Matthew Schuerman reports he isn't giving them a firm deadline. Addressing business leaders ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson defended his budget in front a ballroom full of business people this morning, many of whom will be paying an 8.97 percent state income tax.

Speaking at a breakfast sponsored by the Association for a Better New York, he called the $132-billion budget balanced ...

With changes to the MTA and a new state budget, the fiscal landscape of both the city and the state have changed dramatically over the past few days. But what does it mean for your day-to-day? Karen DeWitt, Albany bureau chief for New York public radio, discusses the ...

Just how bad are they? MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger earlier this week predicted riders would be calling up their legislators later this year, saying, 'My God, I can't get to work on time!'

The MTA has put up on its ...

New York, NY —

They said they didn't want to do it, but board members of the MTA say they had no other choice. They voted almost unanimously yesterday to boost fares and tolls by about 25 percent, and to reduce service on many of the region's bus, train ...

It's March 25th, the deadline lawmakers have to come up with a plan to save New York City transit. WNYC reporters Andrea Bernstein and Matthew Schuerman discuss the fare hikes, service cuts, and other provisions being decided on in Albany.

Consider it the MTA's 'Special Olympics' moment: an attempt at self-deprecation that sorely backfires. The head of the MTA's Capital Construction Company, Michael Horodniceanu, on Monday told board members about the need to scale back the 72nd Street station ...

New York, NY —

At MTA Headquarters yesterday, a lot of talk about state Senate Democrats. They're the ones resisting a rescue package that could head off fare increases and service cuts this spring.

An MTA committee voted to increase the cost of a subway ride to $2.50, in case ...

New York, NY —

Faced with the need to cut service and hike fares, the MTA is cutting back on major construction projects. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman reports that the latest cut is to a section of the Second Avenue subway.

REPORTER: Originally, the MTA wanted to build an extra bypass ...

An MTA Committee has said 'yes' to mass transit fare hikes. The unanimous vote by the Finance Committee is the first of two approvals needed before a single ride rises to $2.50. Board members say state lawmakers should step in with a rescue plan before the full board votes on Wednesday.

Allen Cappelli, a board member from Staten Island, says time is running out. 'There are 45 hours before this disaster goes into effect and I hope that something will sink in with both the Democrats and the Republicans,' says Cappelli.

Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger struck a conciliatory tone to reporters afterwards, saying he was optimistic that the state Senate would step in to prevent those fares from taking effect. 'They are going to make it happen, I believe, as soon as they can get together and figure out what they as a majority want to do it,' says Hemmerdinger. 'They will do it as soon as they can I'm sure they want to do it as quickly as we want them to do it.'

Commuters at Grand Central Station this afternoon generally didn't like hearing the latest news about train service. Manhattan resident Eileen Conway, 26, who takes the subway regularly, said it comes at the wrong time. 'A lot of people don't have the funds that they did even six months ago and the fact that they are working with less and having to pay more is incredible,' says Conway.

Metro-North riders would also see their fares go up. Cesar Rodriguez takes occasional trips down to Manhattan from his home near Beacon. But he doubts he will come as often if the off-peak fare goes up from $12 to $15 as approved today. 'It's like they don't want you to come down here,' says Rodriguez. 'As soon as you come down they want to hit you over the head right away.'

Governor Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have reached an agreement. But the Democratic majority of the state Senate has rejected the bridge tolls on the East River as a means of helping the MTA, while Republicans are resisting the payroll tax.

New York, NY —

An MTA committee this morning is ready to hike the base subway fare up to $2.5, and the monthly MetroCard to $103. WNYC’s Matthew Schuerman reports that board members are still hoping the state legislature will intervene before the new fares becomes final.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson ...

New York, NY —

At 76 stories, the Beekman Tower on Spruce street was supposed to be the tallest residential building in New York City. But the developer may stop work at half-the-height because of the poor economy. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman has more.

REPORTER: The sleek, narrow tower, designed by ...

New York, NY —

The behind-the-scenes fight over how to rescue the MTA came out into the open yesterday, when the state Senate unveiled a plan it said would keep fare hikes to a minimum, without any new bridge tolls. But the Governor and the Speaker of the Assembly ...

WNYC reporters Elaine Rivera, Cindy Rodriguez, and Matthew Schuerman discuss David Paterson's first year as New York's Governor and how his administration has affected New York City.

New York, NY —

A new South Ferry subway station opened yesterday, allowing riders from all 10 cars of a subway train to disembark at the southern end of the number 1 line. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman reports that the MTA is taking responsibility for an engineering mistake that delayed ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson has rejected the State Senate's rescue plan for the MTA, saying it fails to address the agency's long-term capital funding needs. He's urging the Senate's Republican and Democratic leaders to meet with him to come up with a compromise. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver ...

Governor Paterson joined officials this morning for the opening of the first new subway station in 20 years. The new South Ferry Station at the southern end of the number 1 line will be able to accommodate all 10 cars ...

New York, NY —

Today, a familiar cry at the southern end of the Number 1 subway line will cease at last.

A new, longer South Ferry station means that conductors no longer have to tell passengers to move to the first five cars to get out. Federal September 11 ...

New York, NY —

State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith continues to hold out on giving his support to the MTA rescue plan.

SMITH: We don't want no service cuts. And we don't want anybody laid off. So we're all committed to working with a plan that makes some sense, ...

New York, NY —

The definition of "shovel-ready" is shifting. The federal government is giving transit agencies, including the MTA, more than a year to spend its federal stimulus money. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman has more. REPORTER: House Democrats had wanted to give transit agencies just three months to commit ...