NEW YORK — President Donald Trump announced Thursday about $500 million in the CARES Act transit funding is headed to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“Important funding to keep transit systems clean and operating and get people back to work! Spend it wisely!” he said in a tweet.
I am proud to announce the first $500M of $3.9B in CARES Act transit funding headed to the NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Important funding to keep transit systems clean and operating to get people back to work! Spend it wisely! @NYGovCuomo @NYCMayor
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2020
The MTA, the largest public transportation agency in the nation, was granted about $3.9 billion in funds after asking the federal government for billions bailout funding. The system has faced plummeting ridership since the start of the pandemic in the city.
The MTA has requested another $3.9 billion after getting a first installment of $3.9 billion in the first stimulus. Deep cleaning and disinfecting is costing hundreds of millions of dollars and with ridership down, the agencies need budget help.
The CARES Act provides emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
