The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a New York State agency that (among other duties) operates New York City’s subways and buses. The MTA has been nicknamed “May Take Awhile” because of its many transit delays. “My buddy who works for transit explained to me that MTA actually stands for ‘Might Take Awhile’” was printed in the Daily News (New York, NY) on December 19, 2007. “MTA: Might Take Awhile” has been printed on many images.
   
The MTA has also been nicknamed “More Trouble Ahead” (cited in print since at least 1995),  “Money Thrown Away” (cited in print since at least 1996), “May Take Awhile” (cited in print since at least 2008), “Many Trains Absent” (entered in the Urban Dictionary in 2008), “Money Taking Agency” (cited in print since at least 2009), “Motherfuckers Touching my Ass” (from lyrics to a 2012 song) and “More Than Awful” (January 31, 2019 New York Daily News front page).
   
     
Wikipedia: Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S. state of New York, serving 12 counties in Downstate New York, along with two counties in southwestern Connecticut under contract to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, carrying over 11 million passengers on an average weekday systemwide, and over 800,000 vehicles on its seven toll bridges and two tunnels per weekday. MTA is the largest public transit authority in the United States.
         
Daily News (New York, NY)
Voice of the People
By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DEC 19, 2007 | 9:35 PM
Brooklyn: The new N trains have artwork above the windows depicting a sprightly jack rabbit running with passengers on its back as an allegory for the MTA. Wouldn’t a turtle on crutches have been a more realistic depiction? My buddy who works for transit explained to me that MTA actually stands for “Might Take Awhile.”
Ben Bruno
 
SubChat
Re: The Subway in 50 Years?
Posted by Edwards! on Fri May 9 16:29:16 2008, in response to Re: The Subway in 50 Years?, posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Fri May 9 13:30:52 2008.
“New York City Leisure Transit” of the MTA.
 
MTA=Might Take Awhile
       
Twitter
Uppity Negress
@cayenneforever
As Soylentjames says: MTA stands for Might Take Awhile!
1:26 AM - 27 Jul 2008
   
Twitter
Bella Allen
@MsBellaF
MTA = MIGHT TAKE AWHILE #MTASucks
9:10 AM - 22 Jul 2010
   
Twitter
Harlem World Ace Boogie
@Copastetik
Nigga said MTA stands for Might Take Awhile.
9:37 PM - 31 Dec 2010
 
The Guardian (London, UK)
The 2016 campaign, minute-by-minute
US elections 2016
8 Apr 2016 16:17
(...)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA, or “Might Take Awhile”) rules of conduct state that “shall engage in any nontransit uses” of the subway, including “public speaking; campaigning; leafletting or ... activities intended to encourage and facilitate voter registration.”
   
New York Services Blog
Cool T-Shirt for Anyone Who Takes the NYC Subway – MTA – Might Take Awhile
February 6, 2018 admin Clothing / Fashion
 
Reddit—NYC rail
MTA pulling a fast one? (self.nycrail)
submitted August 29, 2018 by Hdelacruz24
Guess MTA are missing their original deadline at the 163rd station (Manhattan) now that the posters outside one of the stations changed from opening in September to now opening in the Fall.
COMMENTS
ThatJHGuy
Remember:
MTA = Might Take Awhile