MTA: Nearly Half Of Bus Riders Aren't Paying

The MTA is blaming fare beaters for its operational deficit.

It says 47 percent of riders didn't pay during the first three months of the year and the problem is only getting worse. Last year, fare evasion on the buses cost the agency $300 million. It's promising a crackdown along with a public awareness campaign to change behavior.

The revelation came during a board meeting where MTA officials discussed the future of big-scale projects after Governor Kathy Hochul decided to hit the brakes on congestion pricing. That would have charged drivers $15 to travel south of 60th Street.

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