Transit officials across the U.S. brace for steep service cuts

Yes, but: A bipartisan group of senators has outlined a $908 billion coronavirus relief package that includes $15 billion for public transit agencies.

• The plan would provide just under half of the $32 billion that transit leaders have called for, per the NYT.

Zoom in: Officials in New York City, facing a $15.9 billion deficit through 2024, unveiled a plan that would cut subway and bus service by 40%, while slashing commuter rail service in half, per the Times.

• In Boston, transit authorities have proposed cutting ferry service entirely, along with some bus routes. In addition, trains would run less frequently on the commuter rail and subway.
• Atlanta suspended 70 of its 110 bus routes in April. The modified schedule could become permanent, per the NYT.

• Los Angeles' Metropolitan Transportation Authority slashed its budget by $1.2 billion, extending previously temporary cuts to bus and rail service, the LA Times reports.

The bottom line: The budget slashes "could hobble the recoveries of major cities from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, where reliable transit is a lifeblood of the local economies," writes the Times.

• The cuts would especially harm minority and low-income people, as they tend to use public transportation more frequently than other groups, the Times notes.