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MTA To Gain Money From Budget Amendments

Posted by
on February 8th, 2010 at 11:53 pm

On the 21st of January, I wrote an entry about how the executive budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 unveiled by Gov. Paterson would short change the MTA $104 million. Fast forward to earlier today when the 21-day amendments to the 2010-11 Executive Budget were released which featured a net gain of $230M for the beleaguered transit agency. Lets first take a look at the press release about these amendments courtesy of Gov. Paterson’s website:

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he will put forward proposed improvements to the MTA mobility tax in his 21-day amendments to the 2010-11 Executive Budget that will help preserve that transit system as the economic lifeblood of the metropolitan region. This revised proposal would ensure that the MTA will receive previously projected mobility tax revenues in 2010 and in future years in order to help mitigate the impact of the authority’s budget difficulties on straphangers; improve regional equity by introducing a two-tiered tax rate that brings tax collections more in line with local ridership; and deliver substantial additional tax relief for small businesses during the current economic downturn.

“The new proposal I am putting forward will provide relief to straphangers, as the MTA makes the difficult decisions necessary to balance its budget during an historic fiscal crisis that is significantly impacting all levels of government,” Governor Paterson said. “In addition, it also makes key improvements to the current tax structure, promoting regional equity and delivering relief to small businesses.”

The new structure will restore 2010 MTA mobility tax revenues to $1.54 billion, which is equal to original projections (net additional revenue of approximately $230 million for MTA). It also addresses projected out-year deterioration, providing more than $200 million in additional annual revenue on an ongoing basis in 2011 and beyond.

Click here for the complete press release.

Now here is a statement the MTA sent out via e-mail in response to these amendments:

“The MTA is grateful to Governor Paterson for his continued focus on funding the MTA and the critical service we provide to 8.5 million New Yorkers every day. The MTA’s revenues have taken two significant hits since December: a nearly $400 million deficit was closed in December with administrative reductions and service cuts; and just last week we learned of a new approximately $400 million shortfall due primarily to reduced State projections of the payroll mobility tax.

Based on the estimates provided by the Governor’s office, the changes to the payroll mobility tax proposed today would provide $230 million to recover much of the latest $400 million in deterioration and could lessen the need for additional cuts on top of those passed in December. It would not eliminate the need for the service cuts and administrative reductions included in the MTA Budget passed in December.

The proposal also changes the structure of the payroll mobility tax, which is a decision to be made by the Governor and the Legislature. Even if this restructuring is enacted, the MTA will remain focused on overhauling how it does business to reduce costs and operate within the funding provided.”

Am I the only one who is not excited about this? Don’t get me wrong, any sort of positive financial news for the MTA is good but I have to call these amendments for what they are. They are nothing but a game being played by Gov. Paterson has he faces a horrific approval rating across the entire state. I & anyone else who follows politics can see this move coming a mile away.

Well I am sorry Governor Paterson, I will not cheer you for your amendments. Instead I will say that you need to stop playing the typical political games & along with elected officials from the city to state level, find legitimate ways to provide funding for the MTA.

When political leaders such as yourself do what is good for the transit agency, its riders, & the entire region for the right reasons & not just for style points, I will then cheer you on. Until then, I don’t think so……

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Finances
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Bloomberg Questions Student Metrocard Cuts

Posted by
on February 8th, 2010 at 12:16 am

Over the last few weeks, the MTA’s piss poor financial situation has been in the news. Staring down the barrel of even bigger issues, the agency has been working on different ways to cut down on costs. One of those plans called for the elimination of Student Metrocards. As one would expect, this plan has been met with outrage from many parents & politicians across the city. Now we can add another person who has major reservations about the plan, Mayor Bloomberg.

The mayor took his opposition one step further on his weekly radio show calling into question why retired employees could still receive free rides but not students. Pete Donohue & Kate Lucadamo of the New York Daily News has more in this report:

If students can’t get a free ride, MTA retirees shouldn’t either, Mayor Bloomberg said Friday.

The mayor called into question the policy of giving retired transit workers free bus and subway rides since free and reduced cards for city students are on the chopping block.

“Does it make any sense to give retirees passes for the rest of their lives and not give our kids passes so they can go to school? No,” Bloomberg said during his weekly radio show. “It’s pretty hard to argue that that is an intelligent policy.”

Click here for the complete report.

Sorry but I must call the Mayor out for playing both sides to the middle here. On one hand, his entire reign as mayor has seen year after year of inadequate funding provided. Yet he wants to turn right back around & question a plan that would help the beleaguered agency save money. This is the same agency he has continuously abused for not doing what it can to cut costs.

Instead of acknowledging his failure at making sure the city puts in its fair share, he rather play political games & go to the tired routine of piling on to the MTA. His comparison of free riders taken by retired employees is beyond ridiculous. Does he truly believe the MTA spends more in giving away free rides to retired employees versus school children? If he does, he clearly has no business being the Mayor of New York City.

I do not support cutting Student Metrocards unless absolutely necessary. However instead of bashing the agency publicly as part of the status quo politcal games, how about properly funding the MTA. In case he does not get it, here is a clue for Mayor Bloomberg. Most employees who retire don’t use the system much, if at all in some cases. They tend to live outside the region & have no use for it & don’t want to ride it for that matter.

Lastly, why of all times call into question a perk given to workers for years? If it was such a huge concern, wouldn’t you have raised concern during past negotiations. Instead you wait until it is convenient to throw that out for the mostly anti-MTA public to feast on. Stop playing games Mayor Bloomberg & find a way to pony up a fair share of money for the Student Metrocards if you really believe in them so much. Anything less & you are just using students as a chess piece in your public game against the MTA.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Two Bronx Stations To Close For 7 Months

Posted by
on February 5th, 2010 at 11:59 pm

As I have stated many times before, when I update the “Service Diversions” page, I include information for planned changes beyond just the weekend. So with that in mind, I would like to take a quick moment & bring notice to a big diversion involving some stations in the Bronx along the 6 Train. The diversion calls for the closure of the Morrison Av-Soundview and Whitlock Av for 7 months due to a multi-million dollar construction project.

With such a huge project & closure involved, it came as no surprise when MTA NYC Transit sent out a press release with more information:

MTA NYC Transit announces the next phase of a major $89 million construction project to reconstruct and rehabilitate five stations on the Pelham 6 line. They are Whitlock Avenue, Elder Avenue, Morrison Avenue-Soundview, St. Lawrence Avenue and Parkchester.

The first two stations to close for rehab are Whitlock Avenue and Morrison Avenue-Soundview. The stations will close beginning 5 a.m. Monday, February 8 and will remain closed until Monday, September 13, 2010. The rehab work at all five stations will include the complete replacement of the mezzanines, canopy roofs, track beds, platform edge safety tiles, and public address systems. The stations will also undergo an electrical upgrade and the installation of fluorescent lighting.

In order to accomplish this work within a safe environment, each station, with the exception of Parkchester, will be closed for seven months. At Parkchester, the northbound and southbound platforms will be closed separately for three months each.

Customers who usually use the Whitlock Avenue and Morrison Avenue-Soundview stations may take the Bx4, which operates along Westchester Avenue, to the Elder Avenue 6 station or the Simpson Street 25 station. The bus ride is free from these four stops on Westchester Avenue: Simpson Street 25, Whitlock Avenue 6, Elder Avenue 6, and Morison Avenue-Soundview 6. Please note that between 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m., the Bx4 operates every 20 minutes and only at these four stops.

Station posters and “Take-One” brochures are available at Pelham 6 line stations. Customers may call our Travel Information Center at 718-330-1234 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, or log onto www.mta.info for more information.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions Update 02-05-10

Posted by
on February 5th, 2010 at 4:23 pm

Yesterday afternoon, I posted the latest planned service diversions for the weekend & beyond in some cases. While updating the files, I wondered if any or all of the work might get canceled due to the inclement weather that is heading our way. So I was not surprised to receive an e-mail with details on most work being canceled for the weekend. Here are the complete details courtesty of MTA NYC Transit:

Due to inclement weather all weekend subway work has been cancelled with the exception of the project on the 7 line which remains the same (see below).

7
From 11:30 p.m. Friday, February 5 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 8, there are no 7 trains between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza due to track panel installation on the Davis Street curve. The NQ and free shuttle buses provide alternate service. Note: 42nd Street Shuttle S runs overnight. Q trains are extended to/from Ditmars Blvd.

All other lines will operate according to the usual weekend schedule. Please note: At all times until Fall 2010, the Coney Island-bound Q platforms at Avenue H and Avenue M are closed for rehabilitation. At all times until December 2010, the Manhattan-bound Q platforms at Avenue U and Neck Road are closed for rehabilitation. At all times for approximately four months, the Manhattan-bound A platforms at Beach 25th and Beach 67th Streets are closed for rehabilitation

So keep this information in mind when traveling this weekend. Most importantly, stay safe out there & have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 02-04-10

Posted by
on February 4th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest planned information for the upcoming weekend, next week, & beyond in some cases. I suggest you print out a copy of the diversions to carry around with you or use your mobile device to access it while outside. Have a great weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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