New Yorkers for Transportation Equity
2025 - $20,000 General Operating Support
New Yorkers for Transportation Equity (NYFTE) organizes towards a transportation network for everyone in New York State that is accessible, dependable and sustainable. Their work elevates the voices and perspectives of those most directly impacted: Black and Brown folks, low-income people, immigrants, young people, seniors and people with disabilities. By building the power of walkers, riders and drivers, NYFTE aims to connect all New Yorkers across transit routes, regions and social class. The coalition is led by a Steering Committee of eleven grassroots organizations and 35 partner organizations all across the state.
NYFTE came together in 2023 as billions of dollars were being directed to New York State through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. As funds were overwhelmingly going to highway projects, NYFTE wanted to reform this “business as usual” approach and push New York to meet the demands of the state’s ambitious climate plan by diverting transportation spending away from wasteful highway projects and into safe, reliable, accessible, and interconnected public transit, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure for all who call New York State home. Transportation is the second largest source of carbon emissions in New York State, and highways disproportionately cause higher rates of air and noise pollution in Black and immigrant communities due to the racist history of highway expansion in New York.
To address these issues holistically, NYFTE is currently fighting for fully funding non-MTA public transit systems in New York State, where wait times can be as long as one hour and buses run less often. Public transit is the most affordable way to get around, and investing in improving these systems would result in sustainable jobs and economic development. NYFTE is also advocating to stop highway expansions that will increase environmental and health risks to disadvantaged communities, and instead pass the Get Around NY Act, which will set targets to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) to meet New York’s climate laws and direct those funds to multimodal transportation instead. To have a safer, healthier and cleaner New York, NYFTE is fighting to not only block polluting infrastructure, but set long-term goals to build New York’s sustainable and public transportation networks instead.
With roots in Buffalo, Rochester, the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island, organizations are building grassroots power by aligning local transit and highway fights with statewide demands. Organizers are also engaged in narrative change work by sharing transit stories and shifting the discourse around transportation equity.