The NYT is reporting on the "punishing slate" of service cuts by the New York City MTA, which is facing a $400 million budget shortfall. They're eliminating two train lines, reducing service on dozens of bus routes, and phasing out a program that provided free fares to students. The cuts will still need to be approved again before taking effect in the spring, and there's bound to be some public outcry before then. But rest assured that our little Muni system isn't the only one cutting services and suffering at the hands of this Great Recession. But we're pretty sure New York's subways still don't back up and/or break down during rush hour twice a week.