SHARE

Update: MTA Walks Back Decision To Stop Posting Service Alerts On Twitter

Although the MTA previously announced that it would stop posting service alert information on Twitter, the agency has reversed the decision after receiving reassurance that it would not have to pay to use the platform. 

The MTA has decided to continue using Twitter to post service alerts for commuters.

The MTA has decided to continue using Twitter to post service alerts for commuters.

Photo Credit: Pixabay via Pete Linforth/By Bebo2good1 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11999212

The MTA had announced in late April that it would stop using Twitter to post service alert information for New York commuters and instead use its own tools and alert systems. 

However, MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara announced on Thursday, May 4 that the social media company "got the message." 

In her statement, Rieara said that Twitter "reversed its plan to charge the MTA more than half a million dollars per year for these alerts, so now no transit agency will need to pay." 

Additionally, the MTA also received written assurance from the company that the platform's technological reliability would be guaranteed. This comes after the MTA involuntarily lost access to the platform on Friday, April 14, and Thursday, April 27, according to MTA officials. 

Rieara added that the MTA would resume posting alerts on Twitter at 4 p.m. on Thursday. 

"We will continue to closely monitor to ensure Twitter meets the reliability standard riders deserve," Rieara said. 

Although the MTA will keep using Twitter, the other ways for customers to get service alerts are still active. These include: 

  • The myMTA and TrainTime apps;
  • The MTA's homepage at MTA.info;
  • Email alerts;
  • Text messages.

to follow Daily Voice Albany and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE