With ridership down because of COVID-19, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is out billions of dollars. Now, the agency is projecting that ridership will not return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2022. 

The MTA is asking for Washington to grant them $12 billion, which they say should allow the transit agency to ride out through 2021.

New York's senators are also pushing for the money, but others say they are less confident Sen. Mitch McConnell's’ Republican majority will pay the MTA’s way. 

If there is no bailout, the MTA says a wage freeze, staff cuts, fare increases, toll increases and even a reduction in service are on the table. 

The MTA says it is focusing on the federal funding before it will commit to a plan like this. 

Previous funding ran out in July, and so far no plan has hit the Senate floor that would put the MTA on the track to recovery.