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Suburbs Continue To Revolt Against MTA Tax

Posted by
on August 18th, 2010 at 12:36 pm

Over the last couple of weeks, I have written many entries about the big war breaking out between multiple towns/counties & the MTA over the constitutional legality of its Mobility aka Payroll Tax. Andrew Grossman of the Wall Street Journal looks into the growing issue more:

A suburban rebellion is brewing against the payroll tax that was the centerpiece of last summer’s bailout of the MTA.

State senate candidates in the suburbs—especially on Long Island—have made the payroll tax dedicated to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority a focus of their campaigns. Meanwhile, suburban counties are filing lawsuits that argue the tax is unconstitutional. Revenue from the tax accounts for $1.3 billion of the agency’s projected $12 billion 2011 budget.

“Out here on the East End of Long Island people rely a lot less on” the MTA, said Smithtown attorney Lee Zeldin, a Republican trying to unseat Sen. Brian Foley. “That’s why there’s so much resentment.”

Mr. Foley, a Democrat, supported the bailout package that imposed the tax of 34 cents on every $100 of payroll in New York City and seven suburban counties. It kept the MTA from implementing drastic fare hikes and service cuts.

Mr. Foley represents a southern Suffolk County district that has two Long Island Rail Road lines running through it. The MTA proposed cutting weekday service on one of those lines, from Ronkonkama to Greenport, earlier this year. But it later decided against the move.

The payroll tax is emerging as a campaign issue largely in less-dense districts far from the city like Mr. Foley’s, where fewer residents use the MTA to get around.

Suffolk County said Tuesday that it would file a brief supporting neighboring Nassau County’s lawsuit challenging the tax. Other suburban counties and towns have joined Nassau or have filed their own suits.

Mr. Foley doesn’t like the tax and is working to make it less burdensome to businesses, said Jim LaCarrubba, his campaign manager. But he said it was a necessary tradeoff to avoid deep MTA cuts last year.

“It was either that or let them raise fares 35 or 40%, cut service dramatically,” Mr. LaCarrubba said. “To just say you don’t like it and have no solution on how to fix the problems, it’s not being genuine to the public.”

Click here for the complete report.

As I have stated on numerous occasions, I am not sure on the chances of this tax being overturned. One would think that if it wasn’t, the tax would not have been implemented in the first place. However considering the world we live in today & how out of control our government is, such common sense thinking usually does not apply.

Ignoring the fact it came from a campaign manager & the overall political gamesmanship aspect of it, I agree completely with Mr. LaCarrubba when he said “To just say you don’t like it and have no solution on how to fix the problems, it’s not being genuine to the public.”, in terms of the payroll tax.

This line of thinking can apply to any issue involving the MTA & life itself. Enough with attacking the MTA on a bully pulpit to gain constituent brownie points while offering no solutions. Even if their ideas are not good, at least something was put on the table which would lead to further discussions & exchange of ideas.

As I’ve said over the last couple of years, we need to elect people who understand & care about the importance of mass transit to our region. This includes not getting sucked into the driver vs transit rider paradigm which continues to rear its ugly head year after year. Hopefully we will get some pro transit officials into office during the upcoming election season.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Finances
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LIRR To Run Extra Trains For U.S. Open

Posted by
on August 18th, 2010 at 12:04 pm

Continuing with LIRR news, the MTA Long Island Rail Road will once again be running extra trains for those attending the U.S. Open. Here are the complete details courtesy of the press release I received:

The MTA/ Long Island Rail Road is serving up aces with its frequent service to the U.S. Tennis Open. Extra trains will stop at the Mets-Willets Point Station, which is just a short walk to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It’s the fastest and most convenient way to get to the qualifying rounds starting August 24 and Arthur Ashe Kids Day on August 28 right through the finals on September 12.

The train ride is just 19 minutes from Penn Station to the Mets-Willets Point Station. For those traveling from Long Island, the tennis stadium is just six minutes from Woodside, 17 minutes from Great Neck and 27 minutes from Port Washington.

Following is LIRR service to the Mets-Willets Point Station for the U.S. Tennis Open:

Qualifying Rounds (August 24-August 27)

Eastbound (Mets-Willets Point Station stops added to the following Penn Station to Port Washington and Great Neck trains) (Departing Penn Station at):

9:09 AM, 9:39 AM, 10:09 AM, 10:39 AM, 11:09 AM, 11:39 AM, 12:09 PM, 12:39 PM, 1:09 PM, 1:39 PM, 2:09 PM, 2:39 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM and 12:19 AM (Saturday, Aug. 28)

—

Westbound (Mets-Willets Point Station stops added to the following trains from Port Washington and Great Neck):

9:32 AM (depart Great Neck), (following depart Port Washington) 9:35 AM, 10:05 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:05 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:05 PM, 12:35 PM, 1:05 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:05 PM, 2:35 PM, 3:05 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, (The following depart Great Neck) 5:44 PM, 6:04 PM, 6:20 PM, (departs Port Washington) 6:24 PM, (departs Great Neck) 6:44 PM ; (the following depart Port Washington): 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM and 12:43 AM (Saturday, Aug 28).

_____

Arthur Ashe Kids Day (August 28):

Eastbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to following Penn Station to Port Washington trains)(departing Penn Station at):

7:19 AM, 7:52 AM, 8:19 AM, 8:52 AM, 9:19 AM, 9:52 AM, 10:19 AM, 10:52 AM, 11:19 AM, 11:52 AM, 12:19 PM, 12:52 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:52 PM, 2:19 PM, 2:52 PM, 3:19 PM, 3:52 PM, 4:19 PM, 4:52 PM, 5:19 PM, 5:52 PM, 6:19 PM, 6:52 PM, 7:19 PM, 7:52 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:52 PM, 9:19 PM, 9:52 PM, 10:19 PM, 10:52 PM, 11:19 PM, and 12:19 AM (Sunday, Aug. 29).

—-

Westbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to following trains from Port Washington):

7:10 AM, 7:43 AM, 8:10 AM, 8:43 AM, 9:10 AM, 9:43 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:43 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:43 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:43 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:43 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:43 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:43 PM, 4:10 PM, 4:43 PM, 5:10 PM, 5:43 PM, 6:10 PM, 6:43 PM, 7:10 PM, 7:43 PM, 8:10 PM, 8:43 PM, 9:10 PM, 9:43 PM, 10:10 PM, 10:43 PM, 11:40 PM and 12:43 AM (Sunday Aug. 29).

_____

Weekdays (August 30-September 3):

Eastbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to the following Penn Station to Port Washington and Great Neck trains) (departing Penn Station at):

8:21 AM, 8:51 AM, 9:09 AM, 9:39 AM, 10:09 AM, 10:39 AM, 11:09 AM, 11:39 AM, 12:09 PM, 12:39 PM, 1:09 PM, 1:39 PM, 2:09 PM, 2:39 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:40 PM (Sept. 3 only), 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM (and Saturday Aug. 4) 12:19 AM, 1:18 AM.

—-

Westbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to the following trains from Port Washington and Great Neck):

8:58 AM (depart Great Neck), 9:32 AM (depart Great Neck), (following depart Port Washington) 9:35 AM, 10:05 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:05 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:05 PM, 12:35 PM, 1:05 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:05 PM, 2:35 PM, 3:05 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, (the following depart Great Neck) 5:44 PM, 6:04 PM, 6:20 PM, (departs Port Washington) 6:24 PM, (departs Great Neck) 6:44 PM, (the following depart Port Washington) 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM (and Saturday Aug. 4)12:43 AM, 2:10 AM.

_____

Weekdays (September 7-September 10):

Eastbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to the following Penn Station to Port Washington and Great Neck trains) (departing Penn Station at):

8:21 AM, 8:51 AM, 9:09 AM, 9:39 AM, 10:09 AM, 10:39 AM, 11:09 AM, 11:39 AM, 12:09 PM, 12:39 PM, 1:09 PM, 1:39 PM, 2:09 PM, 2:39 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:40 PM (Sept. 3 only), 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM (and Saturday Aug. 4) 12:19 AM, 1:18 AM.

—-

Westbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to the following trains from Port Washington and Great Neck):

8:58 AM (depart Great Neck), 9:32 AM (depart Great Neck), (following depart Port Washington) 9:35 AM, 10:05 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:05 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:05 PM, 12:35 PM, 1:05 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:05 PM, 2:35 PM, 3:05 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, 5:44 PM (depart Great Neck), 6:20 PM (depart Great Neck), 6:24 PM (depart Port Washington), 6:44 PM (depart Great Neck), (following depart Port Washington) 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM (and Saturday Aug. 4)12:43 AM, 2:10 AM.

_____

Weekends and Labor Day (Sept. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12)

Eastbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to following Penn Station to Port Washington trains)(departing Penn Station at):

7:19 AM, 7:52 AM, 8:19 AM, 8:52 AM, 9:19 AM, 9:52 AM, 10:19 AM, 10:52 AM, 11:19 AM, 11:52 AM, 12:19 PM, 12:52 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:52 PM, 2:19 PM, 2:52 PM, 3:19 PM, 3:52 PM, 4:19 PM, 4:52 PM, 5:19 PM, 5:52 PM, 6:19 PM, 6:52 PM, 7:19 PM, 7:52 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:52 PM, 9:19 PM, 9:52 PM, 10:19 PM, 10:52 PM, 11:19 PM, and (Mondays Aug. 30 and Sept. 13) 12:19 AM, 1:19 AM.

—-

Westbound (Mets-Willets Point stops added to the following trains from Port Washington):

7:10 AM, 7:43 AM, 8:10 AM, 8:43 AM, 9:10 AM, 9:43 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:43 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:43 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:43 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:43 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:43 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:43 PM, 4:10 PM, 4:43 PM, 5:10 PM, 5:43 PM, 6:10 PM, 6:43 PM, 7:10 PM, 7:43 PM, 8:10 PM, 8:43 PM, 9:10 PM, 9:43 PM, 10:10 PM, 10:43 PM, 11:40 PM and (Mondays Aug. 30 and Sept. 13) 12:43 AM, 2:10 AM.

_____

Customers traveling to Mets-Willet Point Station from branches other than Port Washington can take the LIRR to Woodside Station, then transfer to a Port Washington Branch train. Since Mets-Willets Point Station is located in Fare Zone One, tickets to that zone from outlying stations are valid to Mets-Willets Point. However, customers must hold onto their ticket stubs and inform ticket collectors of their intention to travel to Mets-Willets Point.

Since on-board fares are higher, customers are advised to buy tickets in advance at ticket offices, ticket machines, or on-line through the LIRR’s WebTicket service (allow five business days for delivery). Customers planning to attend more than one match, or planning to travel with other tennis fans, may want to purchase a Peak or Off-Peak Ten-Trip ticket.

LIRR Customers with mobility impairments who are traveling to the U.S. Open should travel to Woodside Station. At Woodside Station, which is ADA accessible, customers should transfer to a Flushing-bound #7 subway train to the Mets-Willets Point subway stop, and then use the ramp to reach Roosevelt Avenue, across from the ballpark.

To return to Woodside after the game, customers with mobility impairments should board the #7 subway and travel one-stop east to its end point, the Flushing-Main Street Station. There, after a brief wait on the train, the subway will head west to Woodside. This is necessary due to the location of the ramp, which will only permit access to the eastbound platform.

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
LIRR, Service Alerts
0

LIRR To Offer Extra Service To Mets-Willets Point

Posted by
on August 18th, 2010 at 11:52 am

Time to catch up on some transit news & I will start with some LIRR information. The MTA Long Island Rail Road will be offering extra service to Mets-Willets Point for the Billy Joel movie this Saturday. Here are the complete details:

The MTA Long Island Rail Road is the best way to get into a “New York State of Mind” on Saturday, August 21 when Billy Joel’s “The Last Play at Shea” hits the golden screen at Citi Field. There will be extra eastbound and westbound LIRR service to the Mets-Willets Point station for the film crowd reliving the final concert at Shea Stadium by Long Island’s own Billy Joel.

The movie start time is 8:00 PM. The following trains will stop at Mets-Willets Point for the show:

Eastbound (departing Penn Station at):

5:52 PM, 6:19 PM, 6:52 PM, 7:19 PM, 7:52 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:52 PM, 9:19 PM, 9:52 PM, 10:19 PM.

Westbound (departing Port Washington at):

5:43 PM, 6:10 PM, 6:43 PM, 7:10 PM, 7:43 PM, 8:10 PM, 8:43 PM, 9:10 PM, 9:43 PM, 10:10 PM.

Train service to Mets-Willets Point is available on eastbound Port Washington Branch trains from Penn Station and westbound trains from Great Neck and Port Washington. The train ride is just 19 minutes from Penn Station to Mets-Willets Point.

For those traveling on the LIRR from Long Island, the ballpark is just seven minutes from Woodside, 17 minutes from Great Neck and 27 minutes from Port Washington. From Long Island, customers may travel directly to the stadium from Port Washington Branch stations. Customers from other branches should transfer at Woodside for service to Mets-Willets Point.

Fans traveling from branches other than Port Washington can reach Mets-Willets Point by taking a regularly scheduled train to Woodside Station, then changing to an
eastbound Port Washington Branch train.

Since Mets-Willets Point is located in Zone 1, tickets to that zone from outlying stations are valid to Mets-Willets Point. However, passengers must retain their ticket stubs and inform ticket collectors of their intention to travel to Mets-Willets Point Stadium. Customers must hold onto their tickets, which will be collected at Mets-Willets Point after they disembark.

Customers are advised to buy tickets in advance at ticket offices or ticket machines, since on-board fares are higher. Customers planning to travel to the screening with other Billy Joel fans may want to purchase an Off-Peak Ten-Trip ticket.

The LIRR’s Mets-Willets Point Station is not handicapped accessible. The subway Flushing Line Mets-Willets Point station is accessible via the Queens-bound local platform, with an ADA ramp connecting to the sidewalk on the south side of Roosevelt Avenue.

LIRR Customers with mobility impairments who are traveling to see the Mets should travel to Woodside Station. At Woodside Station, which has elevators, customers should transfer to a Flushing-bound #7 subway train to the Mets-Willets Point subway stop, and then use the ramp to reach Roosevelt Avenue, across from the ballpark.

To return to Woodside after the game, customers with mobility impairments should board the #7 subway and travel one stop east to its end point, the Flushing-Main Street Station. There, after a brief wait on the train, the train will head west to Woodside. This is necessary due to the location of the ramp, which will only permit access to the eastbound platform.

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
LIRR, Service Alerts
0

Service Diversions 08-16-10

Posted by
on August 16th, 2010 at 5:01 am

I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page by removing all of the work that just wrapped up a minute ago. The latest information for the upcoming week & beyond in some cases is at the forefront.

As always, I suggest you print out a copy of the diversions to have with you while riding. You may also use any phone or electronic device to access the mobile friendly version of Transit Blogger. Have a safe week & do your best to keep cool!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions
0

MTA To Invest In Wheelchair Friendly SUV’s

Posted by
on August 16th, 2010 at 12:36 am

As one who follows the MTA’s operations pretty strongly on a regular basis, I understand their costs & debt are not limited to the standard things most riders think. One of their biggest cost issues actually comes from a service that does not get much publicity at all, Access-A-Ride.

The Access-A-Ride program, while extremely vital, has been a money burner for the agency for some time now. When the service does make the news, it is usually in an unflattering light such as when it was exposed that the service was being used for trips to Empire City!

The service is once again in the news but for what the MTA hopes is a positive reason. The agency will be investing in wheelchair friendly SUV’s which will help them lower the average cost of an Access-A-Ride use to $45 per person instead of the current $60. Jeremy Smerd of Crain’s New York has more:

The Taxi & Limousine Commission has not embraced the MV-1, the only car designed and built to be wheelchair-accessible, but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has.

By January, the MTA hopes to have 30 MV-1 wheelchair-accessible sport-utility vehicles on the streets—15 of which will be powered by compressed natural gas. The $40,000 cars, made by Miami-based Vehicle Production Group, cost 60% less than Access-a-Ride vans.

The cars are part of an effort to lower the cost of paratransit rides to $45 per person from around $60. The cost of providing Access-a-Ride service, which is required under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, has skyrocketed nearly 148% since 2006 to $472 million this year.

The TLC won’t approve new vehicles while it commissions automakers to build the Taxi of Tomorrow.

The MV-1 can hold up to two wheelchairs and has a back bench seat that can seat three people. IT will go into production this fall.

Click here for the complete report.

I applaud the agency for looking at positive ways to cut down the costs of the albatross known as Access-A-Ride. As I said, the service is of vital importance but the costs are completely out of hand.

These SUV’s look interesting but I would like to hear or read more about the actual costs & savings that could come with their use. Has the agency done a thorough cost-analysis report? Before giving a complete thumbs up, I would like to find out more specifics.

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