On Friday afternoon, Senator Hillary Clinton announced proposed legislation which includes $237 million in new funding for New York City's mass transit system. The bulk of the cash will go toward the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an effort to prevent future fare increases.

"One of the best ways to save money, help the environment, end our dependence on foreign oil and free our roads up is mass transit," Senator Clinton said during a press conference in the middle of Grand Central Station.

She stressed the need to alleviate congestion, which she said costs the country $68 billion per year, and highlighted the efforts of countries like France and China, whose investments in mass transit dwarf those of the United States.  read more »

Here are the subway stations (and the lines they service) where the M.T.A. has proposed delaying improvements:

• Four on the Pelham line (the 6 train)
• Four on the Sea Beach line that were to occur in late 2009 (the N train)
• 10 stations on the West End line (the D and M trains);
• The Smith-9th Street station on the Culver line (F and G trains)

It only took three weeks for the MTA to “postpone” the service upgrades promised after the March fare hikes, so we were skeptical when officials told frustrated straphangers that the package might be approved in June if the MTA’s financial situation improved.

MTA Executive Director Lee Sander said Wednesday that the transportation authority faced an operating deficit of as much as $500 million to $700 million next year—mainly due to a dip in real estate tax revenue and the rising costs of fuel—and warned that if Albany did pitch in more money to fill the gap, the burden would fall on passengers.

But, according to a statement issued today by riders advocacy group the Straphangers Campaign, New Yorkers already pay 55 percent of the city's transit costs, giving them the highest fare burden in the nation. In other large transit networks, fares account for an average of 40 percent of operating budgets.  read more »

For the seventh year in a row, hundreds of strangers will drop trow on the subway this Saturday, and The Observer will be there to watch (and participate, as per the organizer's instructions). Last year Improv Everywhere, a 70-person performance troupe whose stated mission is to “cause chaos and joy in public places," assembled over 300 people for “No Pants 2k7," and founder Charlie Todd is looking forward to another big turnout this year--600 Facebook members have already signed up.

We chatted with Mr. Todd on the eve of “No Pants 2k8” about what motivates a bunch of strangers to ride the subway in their skivvies.  read more »