MTA Financial News Coming From All Sides
The news has been coming fast from all directions over the last few days as, we inch closer & closer to the possible passing of the doomsday scenario. We had Congressman Anthony Weiner come up with one of the most idiotic proposals I have read or heard in quite some time. This is coming from someone who thinks Anthony does a good job & tries hard. However I have to call it like I see it on this one. Sorry Anthony but trying to make $391 million make up what is almost a $2 billion dollar deficit won’t work.
If this was not bad enough, we have a number of democrats refusing to support any sort of plan that includes tolls. You know that I believe in both drivers & transit riders being treated equally & fairly. Even though the Ravitch Commission plans were not as good as they could have been, they are better than seeing a doomsday scenario enacted or any of the other plans proposed. So having key democrats holding out against implementing his proposals due to their own so-called beliefs of fairness, does not bold well for so many.
However it doesn’t end there as Democratic Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith questioned whether the MTA was bluffing with the March 25th deadline. I need to contact Malcolm & tell him the big secret many of us know, the MTA is not really in a financial crisis. This is a big game the MTA is playing & so many of us transit advocates & bloggers are playing along. Can someone tell me how this jackass got elected again. Whoever voted for this clown should be ashamed of themselves as he is just another clueless idiot who can give two shits about the MTA & the millions they serve.
The beat goes on & on from all sides. Regardless of what side you are on, one thing is clear. The MTA is not playing a game about the March 25th deadline. This is not some alternate reality where we will wake up & realize things are not as bad as many claim it is. The MTA is in a huge whole mainly due to Albany’s neglect coupled with the decisions made by the last regime. Either Albany starts the right the years of many wrongs or millions all over this region will get the ultimate screwjob in the not so distant future.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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(Q)uincy Will Still Hope To “C” Better Days
Rider pondering her thoughts while on a Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. bound Q train; Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit
Back in January 2008, the Rider Report Card results for the Q train were released. I had wrote about how (Q)uincy hoped to “C” better days. Unfortunately, (Q)uincy will once again have to hope to “C” better days as it once again earned a C for its report card. Lets go straight to the breakdown:
Q Train Riders Top 10 Priorities; 2007 priority rank in ( ):
01. Reasonable wait times for trains ( 1 )
02. Adequate room on board at rush hour ( 3 )
03. Minimal delays during trips ( 2 )
04. Cleanliness of stations ( 5 )
05. Station announcements that are easy to hear ( 4 )
06. Cleanliness of subway cars ( 8 )
07. Sense of security on trains ( 7 )
08. Train announcements that are easy to hear ( 6 )
09. Sense of security in stations ( 9 )
10. Station announcements that are informative ( 10 )
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Complete Q train riders priorities 2007 priority rank in ( ):
01. Reasonable wait times for trains ( 1 )
02. Adequate room on board at rush hour ( 3 )
03. Minimal delays during trips ( 2 )
04. Cleanliness of stations ( 5 )
05. Station announcements that are easy to hear ( 4 )
06. Cleanliness of subway cars ( 8 )
07. Sense of security on trains ( 7 )
08. Train announcements that are easy to hear ( 6 )
09. Sense of security in stations ( 9 )
10. Station announcements that are informative ( 10 )
11. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel ( 13 )
12. Comfortable temperature in subway cars ( 11 )
13. Working elevators and escalators in stations ( 14 )
14. Train announcements that are informative ( 12 )
15. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines ( 16 )
16. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars ( 15 )
17. Ease of use of subway turnstiles ( 18 )
18. Signs in stations that help riders find their way ( 19 )
19. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way ( 17 )
20. Lack of graffiti in stations ( 20 )
21. Lack of graffiti in subway cars ( 21 )
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Now here is the graded breakdown for all 21 categories; 2007 grade in ( ):
01. Minimal delays during trips C (C-)
02. Reasonable wait times for trains C (C)
03. Adequate room on board at rush hour D+ (D+)
04. Sense of security in stations C (C+)
05. Sense of security on trains C (C)
06. Working elevators and escalators in stations C- (C)
07. Signs in stations that help riders find their way C+ (C+)
08. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way C+ (C)
09. Cleanliness of stations C- (C-)
10. Cleanliness of subway cars C- (C-)
11. Station announcements that are easy to hear D+ (D+)
12. Station announcements that are informative C- (D+)
13. Train announcements that are easy to hear C- (D+)
14. Train announcements that are informative C- (C-)
15. Lack of graffiti in stations C+ (C+)
16. Lack of graffiti in subway cars C+ (C+)
17. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars C (C-)
18. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel C (C)
19. Comfortable temperature in subway cars C+ (C+)
20. Ease of use of subway turnstiles B- (B-)
21. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines B- (B)
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A little over a year has passed & not much has changed with the Q. Although the amount of responses received was down, the issues remained the same. The top 10 priorities were repeat offenders albeit in different positions for most. The one change I do agree with is “Adequate room on board at rush hour” being the #2 priority. When I broke down the results last year, I felt this specific issue should have occupied the 2nd slot considering the typical ride one faces when riding this line. Honestly pretty much what I said last year still stands true to this day. Maybe one day things will look up for (Q)uincy.
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Staten Island Railway Is No Different
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Site Update 03/12
Later today I will breakdown the Rider Report Card results for the Q. I will also catchup on the countdown to the passage of the doomsday scenario. Thanks for sticking around.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Franklin Ave. Shuttle Good For Laughs
Franklin Avenue Shuttle about to depart Prospect Park. Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit
Another Rider Report Card grade is in & as you probably assumed, a repeat performance in terms of the overall grade. This time the line in question is the Franklin Avenue Shuttle which once again earned a C. This grading came from a huge amount of responders, 52 to be exact. Anyway for the sake of being consistent, here is the full breakdown:
Franklin Ave. Shuttle Train Riders Top 10 Priorities; 2007 priority rank in ( ):
01. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines ( 10 )
02. Reasonable wait times for trains ( 1 )
03. Minimal delays during trips ( 3 )
04. Working elevators and escalators in stations ( 9 )
05. Sense of security in stations ( 2 )
05. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way ( 20 ) (Tie)
07. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel ( 11 )
08. Sense of security on trains ( 4 )
08. Adequate room on board at rush hour ( 5 ) (Tie)
10. Cleanliness of stations ( 6 )
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Complete Franklin Ave. Shuttle Train Riders riders priorities 2007 priority rank in ( ):
01. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines ( 10 )
02. Reasonable wait times for trains ( 1 )
03. Minimal delays during trips ( 3 )
04. Working elevators and escalators in stations ( 9 )
05. Sense of security in stations ( 2 )
05. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way ( 20 ) (Tie)
07. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel ( 11 )
08. Sense of security on trains ( 4 )
08. Adequate room on board at rush hour ( 5 ) (Tie)
10. Cleanliness of stations ( 6 )
11. Ease of use of subway turnstiles ( 17 )
11. Lack of graffiti in subway cars ( 18 ) (Tie)
13. Station announcements that are informative ( 13 )
13. Train announcements that are informative ( 16 ) (Tie)
15. Station announcements that are easy to hear ( 8 )
15. Comfortable temperature in subway cars ( 12 ) (Tie)
15. Signs in stations that help riders find their way ( 15 ) (Tie)
18. Cleanliness of subway cars ( 7 )
18. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars ( 14 )
20. Train announcements that are easy to hear ( 19 )
20. Lack of graffiti in stations ( 21 )
Click here for the breakdown of votes in this section.
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Now here is the graded breakdown for all 21 categories; 2007 grade in ( ):
01. Minimal delays during trips C (C+)
02. Reasonable wait times for trains C (C-)
03. Adequate room on board at rush hour B- (C)
04. Sense of security in stations C (C)
05. Sense of security on trains C+ (C)
06. Working elevators and escalators in stations C (C)
07. Signs in stations that help riders find their way B+ (C+)
08. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way B- (C)
09. Cleanliness of stations C (C)
10. Cleanliness of subway cars C+ (C)
11. Station announcements that are easy to hear C+ (C-)
12. Station announcements that are informative C+ (C-)
13. Train announcements that are easy to hear C+ (C)
14. Train announcements that are informative C+ (C)
15. Lack of graffiti in stations C (C)
16. Lack of graffiti in subway cars C+ (C)
17. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars C (C-)
18. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel B- (C)
19. Comfortable temperature in subway cars B- (C+)
20. Ease of use of subway turnstiles B (B-)
21. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines B- (B-)
Click here for the breakdown of votes in this section.
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Oh boy, this report card was quite interesting to look over. I don’t recall ever seeing so much fluctuations in any of these report cards. However with that being the case, I will take the results with a grain of salt. The sheer lack of responders played a big role in these fluctuations. If you found even 5-10 more people, the results could have shifted in a completely different direction. Seriously, did anyone ever expect to see “Availability of MetroCard vending machines” as the riders’ #1 priority? I have seen it all now…..
xoxo Transit Blogger
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MTA Bailout Coming Soon?
Could millions of riders be saved from doomsday due to a MTA Bailout? The answer is not completely known at this moment but the New York Daily News had a piece about a possible bailout in Saturday’s print edition. Glenn Blain & Pete Donohue have more in this report:
State legislation designed to rescue straphangers from massive service cuts and fare hikes could emerge in Albany as soon as Monday, sources said Friday.
If approved by the state Assembly and Senate, the plan not only could put the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on firmer financial ground – but also under new leadership.
The rescue plan, which proponents hope is finalized over the weekend, merges the MTA’s unsalaried, part-time chairman’s position with the full-time chief executive officer’s post.
And it’s unclear who would get that powerful top job.
MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger already has a lucrative full-time position running his family’s real estate conglomerate.
Transit advocates and some elected officials have praised current CEO Elliot Sander’s running of the bus, subway and commuter train network.
But Gov. Paterson may bring in a fresh face to declare a new era for an authority still struggling – fairly or not – with a negative image solidified over decades.
Click here for the complete report.
On the point of the possibility of a new leader for the MTA, Mayor Bloomberg voiced support on shaking up the management structure. However he did not state whether or not MTA CEO Elliot Sander should be fired. Kathleen Lucadamo of the New York Daily News has more in this report which appeared in Sunday’s print edition:
Mayor Bloomberg backed a plan to shake up management of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Saturday, but stopped short of saying its CEO, Elliot (Lee) Sander, should be canned.
Albany leaders are floating a rescue plan for the MTA based on the findings of former Chairman Richard Ravitch – and it calls for new leadership.
Click here for the complete report.
The possibility of a MTA bailout is exciting as they could sure use one. Yes, I could focus on how this should never have been necessary if our government properly funded them, but I’ll push that aside. As far as shaking up the management structure, I can support that if the right people are kept while saving money.
Speaking of the right people, I must say that any idea of replacing Elliot Sander should be abandoned. I feel he has done a great job during his short tenure at the MTA. He has been doing pretty well trying to dig an agency out of a mountain of debt & poor decisions/management.
For as good as he has done, he is no miracle worker. Replacing him with someone new would not help the recovery process go any faster. If anything, I feel it would slow it down. He like Barack Obama took over from leaders who left so many problems & little to work with in terms of solutions. He deserves the chance & time to turn things around. If after this time, he has not made significant progress, then & only then should be replaced. As far as I’m concerned, we are nowhere near that time.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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