Gov. Paterson: Proceed With The Doomsday Scenario
As I noted in the entry below, the MTA Finance Committee voted to recommend enacting the “doomsday scenario” budget to the full board on Wednesday. While there is technically still time to come up with a plan, Gov. Paterson has thrown in the towel on something being done. Earlier this morning he urged the MTA to proceed with enacting their “doomsday scenario” budget since the Senate does not seem to be able to come up with a bailout plan. Glenn Blain of the New York Daily News has more in this report:
Gov. Paterson says the MTA should go ahead with its so-called doomsday budget because the Legislature can’t agree on a deal to save straphangers.
Paterson, in a Monday morning news conference, said Wednesday’s deadline has been “known by all parties” and that the MTA should not delay adopting its budget.
“Delaying action, to me, would just ring too true to what’s gone on in Albany too many times,” Paterson said.
The MTA’s finance committee is meeting Monday to approve the massive fare hikes and service cuts needed to plug a $1.2 billion budget gap.
Paterson held out hope that any fare hike or service cuts could be averted if lawmakers agree on a bailout deal sometime after the MTA’s full board meets Wednesday.
Click here for the complete report.
As I said, technically the Senate still has time to craft an acceptable plan to save the MTA & the millions of people who depend on it. However I understand why Gov. Paterson has thrown in the towel on any possible rescue plan. He makes an irrefutable point about the Senate knowing the deadline for quite some time. If they really wanted to get something done, they could have. This is still the case even with Majority Leader Malcolm Smith being clueless about the reality of the deadline.
What sad times we live in when the obvious importance of our mass transit infrastructure & system as a whole continues to be ignored by Albany even though it is arguably the region’s biggest economic engine.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Access-A-Ride Users Spared Huge Fare Increase
Over the last number of months, the main focus of this blog has been on the dire financial crisis within the MTA. Part of this focus was centered on the possible enactment of a “doomsday scenario” which included massive fare hikes & service cuts. One ot the potential fare hikes that did not get as much press was the plan to increase Access-A-Ride fares to twice the regular transit base fare. This proposal was met with obvious disdain.
However Access-A-Ride users may be the only group to have something to celebrate. According to a report by Pete Donohue in today’s New York Daily News, the MTA plans to shelve the proposal which would have lead to a $5 fare:
The MTA is shelving an unpopular plan to more than double the fare disabled riders pay for door-to-door van service, the Daily News has learned.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority finance committee is still scheduled to vote Monday on higher fares for subways, buses and commuter trains scheduled to go into effect June 1.
But a separate provision jacking up the Access-A-Ride fare to $5 from $2 is no longer part of the package, a staff summary obtained by The News reveals.
Transit officials now plan to raise the van service fee by 50 cents. That would keep it equal to the cost of a one-way bus or subway trip, which is slated to rise to $2.50.
Fare hikes of all stripes were blasted during public hearings in the city and surrounding counties this year, yet the Access-A-Ride provision stoked the greatest outrage.
Disabled riders, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, city Controller William Thompson and other officials urged the MTA to spare the service’s 25,000 daily riders.
The staff summary doesn’t acknowledge the strong criticism generated by the original Access-A-Ride proposal. Instead, it says staffers couldn’t get the necessary paperwork and approvals completed in time for this month’s MTA committee and full board meetings.
An Access-A-Ride fare greater than the subway/bus fare requires approval by the mayor and the federal government, authorities have said.
The staff summary suggests the authority will pursue the regulatory approvals while seeking savings in the program along with City Hall.
Click here for the complete report.
Congratulations to those riders being spared such a dramatic fare increase. I only wish the rest of us would be as lucky. However this does not look like it will be the case. First we had Gov. Patterson throwing in the towel on the MTA being bailed out. Then literally within the last 15-20 minutes, the MTA Finance Committee approving a recommendation of the “doomsday scenario” budget to the full MTA Board on Wednesday. I will talk about these two things shortly.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Transit Riders Show How Clueless They Really Are
In the entry below, I touched on how the majority of transit riders are clueless in terms of transit policy & the needs to maintain & grow our system at the same time. Many of the riders already show their lack of knowledge by continuing to obsess over the accusation of double books from 5+ years ago. They also obsess over a surplus disappearing ignoring the fact that maintaining & upgrading the system is not free.
Tomorrow’s print edition of the New York Times takes a look at how transit riders themselves are their unlikely opponent with their non-support for bridge tolls. Here is a sample of William Neuman’s piece:
A small group of Democratic state senators from Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx have blocked a financial rescue proposal for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority because it would require tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges.
They have taken this position even though the plan is meant to help hold down transit fares, and in their districts — as in the city overall — commuters who ride subways and buses easily outnumber those who drive to work.
But interviews with residents in these districts revealed that the holdout legislators have tapped into a concern shared by many of their constituents, even among those where it might be least unexpected: transit riders. And while toll opponents made up a spirited minority among straphangers interviewed in recent days, their views stood out, because they were both unexpected and passionately held.
“I think it’s unfair to tax drivers to pay for those using public transportation,” Serena Burch, 37, said as she waited on a recent afternoon for a bus near Brooklyn College, where she is a full-time student. “Why should the bridge commuters pay for the subway commuters in Brooklyn?”
In the Soundview section of the Bronx, John Garcia, 33, a plumber with a job in Manhattan, is represented by Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., another vocal toll opponent. Mr. Garcia said that even though he was a regular subway rider, he worried about the effect of tolls on the small businesses that frequently use the Harlem River bridges.
“Tolling the bridges is going to hurt a lot of people that own plumbing companies, construction companies, cabs, deliverymen,” Mr. Garcia said, adding that he would prefer higher subway fares to new tolls.
Several subway riders said they opposed both tolls and higher fares and expressed a deep distrust of the transportation authority.
“The whole organization is very inefficient,” said Boris Gertsberg, 33, a software developer who lives in Mr. Kruger’s district in Brooklyn and takes the subway daily to his office in Manhattan. He said he did not drive a car but was still against tolls. “I don’t think looking at hiking fares or putting tolls is the right way to solve the budgetary crisis they’re in,” he said.
Click here for the complete report.
As you know by now, I was not impressed with the Ravitch Commission proposals. I felt they lacked innovation in terms of funding ideas. I felt with the people on the commission, they could have come up with some more options. My main issue was with the business tax as it was not well thought out. However I also understand that these proposals are clearly superior to being forced to live with the enactment of the “doomsday scenario“.
William’s report just showcases what many transit advocates & bloggers know, the general public is clueless on transit policy from how things are run down to the day-to-day operations. They completely ignore the fact they pay higher fares mainly due to elected officials (mainly Albany) shortchanging the MTA & subsequently the riders themselves year after year. They also completely ignore the fact that most of that money gets used on people located outside the 12 counties the MTA serves. Lastly they ignore how the same drivers they feel pity for are benefiting while not caring about the needs of mass transit users.
With this kind of sentiment, is it any wonder that the same anti-transit politicians get elected time & time again? This report just angered me so much as how clueless could people be? I already know the answer but wish it was something completely different. So when riders are paying more for less, I hope they remember that they reap what they sow & that the drivers they defend could care less.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Save Mass Transit With Some Honesty
With the “doomsday scenario” a little over 2 days away, time is running out for Albany to come up with a plan to save millions of riders from subpar mass transit. When it comes to the battle of public opinion, the MTA is considered the dishonest party by far.
Regardless of what proof the MTA says or does in terms of proof of their dire financial situation, a high percentage of the riding public says it is not being upfront. Their proof of this is the claim made 5+ years ago that the agency kept two sets of books. Ever since that accusation came about, the MTA’s cries for monetary assistance have been met with a sentiment of sure you do.
In an a column that appeared in today’s print edition of the New York Daily News, Errol Louis shares his belief on why honesty from the political side is necessary to save mass transit. Lets take a look at what he had to say:
We have reached crunch time in the stalled transit talks, with Albany pols deadlocked and dithering as the MTA prepares to vote this week on a “doomsday budget” that features deep cuts in service and a wallet-busting 23% transit fare hike.
This is idiotic. Everybody knows that some combination of tax hikes, fare increases and service cuts are needed to close the MTA’s $1.2 billion deficit and raise the additional billions needed to keep trains, buses, stations and bridges in working order.
But the men who run Albany remain so far apart that the MTA, Gov. Paterson and leaders of the state Legislature can’t even agree on basic arithmetic, such as the amount of revenue a tax hike is likely to yield.
That’s inexcusable – and a symptom of the need for greater transparency, disclosure and public discussion when it comes to MTA issues.
There’s a better way. Instead of using the six-year-old “two sets of books” canard as an excuse for delay, Albany pols should agree in advance to abide by a public referendum on how best to balance three or four different funding plans.
The plans could be developed by different coalitions of civic, business and political groups, then presented side by side on a Web site developed by a neutral and reliable source – say, a group of university leaders, professional accountants, urban planners and transportation professionals.
Everything should be on the table. Not just the controversial proposal of the moment – tolling the East River bridges – but also sensible ideas like a regional gas tax, which could raise billions for mass transit for a few pennies per gallon at the gas pump.
Click here for the complete column.
I happen to agree with the stance taken here by Mr. Louis. This is 2009 & a good percentage of the riding public continues to be misinformed of transit policy as a whole & what really is or is not necessary to maintain our system. The MTA has done a solid job of keeping things on the up & up under the new regime. It is about time they get recognized for that instead of being buried by the mistakes of their predecessors.
The same people who feel the MTA is being dishonest are the same ones who will be the first to complain about higher fares. They will also be the same people to reelect the anti mass transit officials who continue to screw the riding public at almost every turn. They will also be the same people who will support the possible ouster of MTA CEO/Executive Director Elliot Sander even though he has done a wonderful jub during his tenure.
Listen up people, you can’t have it both ways. Either you start to do your part or be prepared to suffer the consequences of higher fares for years to come. The choice is clearly yours. If you ask me, I wouldn’t be surprised if they stick to the status quo & continue to show just how misinformed & clueless they are.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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NYC Transit Honors Employees
This morning, MTA New York City Transit held a special ceremony at the New York Transit Museum to honor 34 employees. They were awarded “Medals of Excellence” for their acts of bravery, heroism, & quick thinking – both on and of duty – that resulted in saved lives or injury being averted. Here are the complete details in a press release that was sent out just a short time ago:
MTA New York City Transit officials today awarded Medals of Excellence honoring 34 NYC Transit employees that have either aided customers or fellow employees in distress, in some cases putting their lives in danger. Medals were awarded in three distinct categories: Heroism, Commendation and Distinguished Service. Today’s ceremony was held at the New York Transit Museum located at Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn.
The Heroism Medal was awarded to 11 employees who went above and beyond the call of duty in six incidents. Each of these employees acted swiftly and selflessly in rescuing and assisting ill or forlorn customers who were suicidal, saving them from being struck by a train. For example, Messrs. Flaxman, Damilatis, Traver and Mirsky of Capital Program Management acted heroically in saving a male customer who had fallen onto the roadbed in the Broadway Junction station on October 17, 2008. Their coordinated efforts in communicating with the dazed customer, the train operator of the oncoming train and the Rail Control Center helped save the man’s life.
Similarly, Mr. Roger Hoffmann of Maintenance of Way Engineering saved a female Metro-North rider at the Cold Spring station on December 8, 2008. The woman lost her balance and fell onto the roadbed from the opposite platform. Mr. Hoffman immediately jumped onto the roadbed and was able to stop the oncoming train with a hand signal. His decisive action helped avert a potentially tragic outcome.
In another incident, Mr. Raymond Blackman of AFC Maintenance in Subways came to the aid of a station agent who was being threatened outside the booth at the 8th Avenue station on the N line on January 10, 2009. The assailant punched Mr. Blackman in the mouth, knocking out a lower tooth, after being asked to calm down. Mr. Blackman wrestled with the assailant, subdued him, and held him until police arrived. This unselfish and courageous act to protect a fellow employee has earned Mr. Blackman a Heroism Medal.
Likewise, Mr. Jose Montalvo of Revenue was also awarded a Heroism Medal for coming to the aid of a defenseless woman who was being pummeled by a man in a parked car outside the 45th Street station in Brooklyn on November 22, 2008. After Mr. Montalvo shouted for the assailant to stop, the assailant came out of the car throwing punches at him. Mr. Montalvo was able to defend himself and subsequently subdue his attacker, who was restrained until police arrived. Mr. Montalvo fractured his knuckle during this exchange.
“Each of our approximately 70,000 workers is part of an MTA family that performs an incredible job of moving nine million New Yorkers safely and conveniently everyday,” said Elliot G. Sander, MTA Executive Director and CEO. “But today, we honor these 35 MTA NYC Transit employees who gave a bit more of themselves through these acts of bravery and selflessness.”
NYC Transit President Howard H. Roberts, Jr. congratulated these employees for their brave and courageous efforts in rendering assistance and in preventing fatalities on the tracks. “The safety of our customers and employees continues to be our top priority and these acts of a few selfless and dedicated Transit workers really sets the tone for the rest of the agency,” Roberts said.
Eighteen employees were awarded Commendation Medals for individual and collective efforts in 11 incidents portraying various acts of selflessness. An example is Mr. Patrick Biggs of Car Equipment, who was able to calm and reassure a 14-year-old distraught female who was running along the roadbed at the Ralph Avenue station in Brooklyn. Mr. Biggs succeeded in gaining her trust, and lifted her onto the station platform where help was waiting.
The Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to five employees for their continued outstanding and efficient service to NYC Transit.
Nominations for potential honorees were sent to our Employee Recognition Program Committee in the Office of Workforce Development, which selected today’s honored employees that met the committee’s criteria in the three categories.
Recipients of Medals of Excellence:
Name – Position – Medal Received
Max Bataille – Cleaner – Heroism
Raymond Blackman – Structure Maintainer – Heroism
Olugbade Carter – Cleaner – Heroism
George Damilatis – Principal Engineer – Heroism
Louis Flaxman – Project Engineer – Heroism
Abraham Gatling – Superintendent – Heroism
Roger Hoffmann – Architect – Heroism
Martin Mirsky – Project Administrator – Heroism
Jose Montalvo – Collecting Agent – Heroism
Glen Schneider – Tower Operator – Heroism
Philip Traver – Computer Specialist – Heroism
Santos Bartolomely, Jr. – Conductor – Commendation
Patrick Biggs – Road Car Inspector – Commendation
Joseph D. Branca – Train Svc Supervisor – Commendation
Erik A. Clarke – Superintendent – Commendation
Kim Dixon – Train Operator – Commendation
Garfield Jenkins – Train Operator – Commendation
Bruce Johnson – Superintendent – Commendation
Ivan Kelly – Road Car Inspector – Commendation
Edward Loegel – Train Svc Supervisor – Commendation
John Logan – Superintendent – Commendation
Clifford McDonald – Cleaner – Commendation
Tony Mitchell – Cleaner – Commendation
Conrad Morris – Train Dispatcher – Commendation
Kingsley Nwaneri – Cleaner – Commendation
Walter Staniszewski – Train Operator – Commendation
Austin Taylor – Train Operator – Commendation
Courtney E. Tulloch – Train Src Supervisor – Commendation
Stephanie White – Cleaner – Commendation
Olasupo Adewolu – Resident Engineer – Distinguished Svc.
Syed Haque – Electrical Engineer – Distinguished Svc.
Charles Newen – Assoc. Project Engr. – Distinguished Svc.
Beverly Phillip – Budget Manager – Distinguished Svc.
Chiu Rex Tung – Project Engineer – Distinguished Svc.
I would like to congratulate these employees for earning such a distinguished honor.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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