NEW YORK (PIX11) — MTA leaders will meet Wednesday to discuss agency budget woes that could lead to additional fare hikes beyond those already scheduled.

Driving the issue is a relative lack of paying riders compared to the years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ridership sits at just about 60% of what it was before the public health emergency, contributing to a looming fiscal cliff that has the MTA on track to lose $1.6 billion next year.