New York City�s subways and commuter rails are getting a $6 billion chunk of federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has received the money as part of more than $14.5 billion in overall federal relief aid.

The aid, contained in COVID-19 relief bills during both the Trump and Biden administrations, has helped the MTA stave off threatened service cutbacks, layoffs and fare hikes.

�The subway system has been saved from its Covid-catalyzed brink of death,� Schumer said.

Still, the MTA has projected it will have a $1.4 billion operating deficit by 2025, the residual effect of losing more than 90 percent of ridership on subways, trains and buses at the pandemic�s height. Subway ridership still lags pre-pandemic levels by about 40 percent.

The Democrat said he pushed to have the money disbursed in a lump sum rather than given out gradually in much smaller amounts, as is customary with federal aid.

(AP)