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 is known for starting big projects (such a the Second Avenue Subway) and quickly running out of cash. The MTA is also known for what many critics believe are generous pay packages to executives and other workers. The MTA’s constant money woes have caused it to cut back on regular maintenance, causing many delays for riders.
The MTA nickname “More Trouble Ahead” has been cited in print since at least 1995.
The MTA has also been nicknamed “Money Thrown Away” (cited in print since at least 1996), “Might Take Awhile” (cited in print since at least 2007), “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 (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York (MTA) is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S. state of New York, serving 12 counties in southeastern 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.
History
Chartered by the New York State Legislature in 1965 as the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority (MCTA) it initially was responsible only for regulating and subsidizing commuter railroads, including the Long Island Rail Road and what is now the Metro-North Railroad. The MCTA changed its name to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in 1968 when it took over operations of the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) and Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), now MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) and MTA Bridges and Tunnels (B&T) respectively.
Abbreviations.com
What does MTA stand for?
MTA More Trouble Ahead
Google Groups: nyc.transit
Newsgroups: misc.transport.urban-transit, nyc.transit, misc.transport.rail.americas
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (JEich99620)
Date: 1995/08/07
Subject: Re: Proposed NYC MTA Fare Increases!
M.T.A. - More Trouble Ahead!
Google Groups: misc.transport.rail.americas
Newsgroups: misc.transport.rail.americas
From: Tom Stolte
Date: 1997/09/30
Subject: Railroad Nicknames Oct. 1997
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
Money Thrown Away
More Trouble Ahead
Google Groups: nyc.transit
Newsgroups: nyc.transit
From: Twinforks <"Twinfo…@mail.peconic.net"@mail.peconic.net>
Date: 1998/12/22
Subject: Re: TA SAFETY SHOES
> MTA = Moving Trash Around
> = Moving Thugs Around
> = More Trouble Ahead
Don’t forget:
MTA = Money Thrown Away
Dumbo Books of Brooklyn
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday Morning on the Lower East Side: Going to Long Island City in a Vintage Subway Car
(...)
We overheard an interesting (to us, anyway) discussion of the merits of different combinations of subway and bus routes to get from Manhattan to Starrett City. And we learned that MTA can stand for “More Trouble Ahead” and “Money Thrown Away.”