Ridership on the Metro-North Railroad has grown every year since 2005, peaking in '08 and increasing an average of 4.8% each month between January 2007 and September '08. However, it declined 4.8% during the first 10 months of last year, or 4.3 million fewer riders.

The ridership declines on the MTA's subway and commuter rail lines don't necessarily mean that people have taken to the roadways instead. "Vehicle crossings on the MTA's bridges and tunnels have been declining since late 2007, because of rising fuel prices and, more recently, the economic recession," the report states. "When compared to the same period in 2008, crossings declined by 1.6% during the first 10 months of '09," although they've increased recently.

DiNapoli's report comes a few weeks after the MTA board voted to close a $383-million budget gap with service cuts. If implemented beginning next June, the cuts would include reducing or eliminating subway and bus lines, as well as phasing out discounted fares for students in 2010 and 2011.

Along with wiping two subway lines and several bus lines off the transit map, the MTA's proposed cuts would reduce late-night and weekend service and reduce payroll expenses by 10%. The MTA blames several factors, including a $143-million shortfall in tax revenues from the state and a state Supreme Court judge's decision that the agency must honor $91 million worth of raises for unionized employees. The agency will hold public hearings before implementing the cuts.