MTA calls for New York City's assistance as reopening begins

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday issued a letter to New York City officials outlining the agency’s requests as the city’s industries reopen next week.

The city is expected to enter the first phase of reopening on June 8. Phase 1 includes reopening construction, agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale trade and retail operating with curbside or in-store pickup, according to a local news report.

In its letter — addressed to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg — MTA asks that the city: 

• provide 1 million masks to be distributed to MTA riders;
• re-commit the New York Police Department (NYPD) to enforcing MTA’s mask requirement while on public transportation, without conducting arrests or issuing summonses or tickets;
• provide 3,000 volunteers to support MTA’s efforts to distribute hand sanitizer and masks; and
• deploy additional NYPD officers to MTA’s New York City Transit (NYCT) subway system to ensure social distancing.

In addition, MTA called for NYC employers to stagger shifts and continue to allow remote work.

During the first phase of reopening, NYCT will resume full, regular service. However, services should still be used for essential workers and essential trips, according to the letter.