Gov. Patterson Voices Support For Ravitch Commission Plan
We are a little over a day away from the complete Ravitch Commission report being released. However over the last 7-10 days details of the proposals have been leaked from the New York Times to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s “Mobilizing The Region” blog.
For the first time the man who created the Ravitch Commission, Gov. Patterson has voiced his support for the plan which he is still reviewing. One of the main proposals which has been discussed on this blog & many others is the addition of tolls on East River crossings. Until now, no specific toll amounts were known. However tonight we all learned that the potential tolls would be $5 for cash paying customers & $4.15 for E-Z Pass users. The plan also calls for smaller tolls on Harlem River crossings.
The proposal is also there for adding a new company payroll tax which the governor supports as well. If these recommendations make it through Albany, the potential fare hike would drop back to he original forecast of 8% as well as put off “doomsday scenario service cuts & eliminations”.
William Neuman (with contributions from Kareem Fahim) of the New York Times has more in this report:
Gov. David A. Paterson said for the first time on Wednesday that he supported a financial rescue plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that includes charging tolls on bridges over the East and Harlem Rivers. The plan, he said, would substantially reduce the size of a fare increase the authority had sought.
The governor also spoke favorably about a recommendation in the plan for a tax on company payrolls in the region. The measures are aimed at helping the authority overcome a projected $1.2 billion deficit next year and a gaping multibillion-dollar hole in its long-term capital budget.
The governor said he was still reviewing the plan, but was “quite pleased with what I see so far.” “As an alternative to a fare hike,” he said, “I think it’s very viable.”
The governor said the plan would include an increase in fare revenues of 8 percent next year, scaling back a 23 percent increase that the authority had previously said it would need to offset plummeting tax revenue and enormous debt payments.
The plan also calls for a tax of one-third of 1 percent on the payrolls of companies in the region served by the authority. That would amount to about $330 for every $100,000 of payroll. Companies, not workers, would pay.
And it calls for tolls on bridges to Manhattan that are currently free. Tolls on the East River bridges would match tolls on other major crossings already managed by the authority, including the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (formerly the Triborough) and the Queens Midtown Tunnel. On those crossings, cars with E-ZPass are charged $4.15, while drivers paying in cash are charged $5. Lower tolls would be charged on the smaller Harlem River bridges.
Click here for the complete report.
Well this should be quite the report when it is fully released on Friday. I look forward to going over it completely. I said I would wait to comment on some of the leaked proposals but I will not do so any longer.
Let me first start off by saying that I would love to not see a fare hike. However I am a realist & realize that one will occur one way or another. Since riders have no way of not dealing with it, common sense would say that we would prefer an 8% increase versus the doomsday scenario of 23%.
With saying that, I am not sure if these proposals will make it through the web of elected officials who will decide their fate. The idea of tolling the East River bridges has been proposed & defeated many times before. Regardless of the financial crisis our economy is going through, I am not sure if our so called leaders would go against the grain on this specific proposal.
Lets be frank here, as far as tolling the bridges is concerned, look for many residents & elected officials to play the discrimination card. They will contend that their specific area is being discriminated with the addition of tolls on these crossings.
Lets use Staten Island drivers as an example. They will most likely express anger & frustration of potentially being hit with a two toll trip from Manhattan to Staten Island. You can bet your last dollar that local officials in the borough will say they are being discriminated against if tolls for the East River crossings become a reality.
In the New York Times piece, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was questioned. Judging by his “reiteration” of needing to see the final report, I feel it is safe to assume he will be against this specific proposal. In the end on this issue, I don’t know if it will pass. My gut tells me no as history always repeats itself with this issue regardless of the economic conditions & benefits. He seemed open to an idea of a new company payroll tax.
As far as that is concerned, I feel it is a bad idea. While the proposed amount of 1/3 of 1 percent seems low, I can envision many companies using this as an excuse to layoff workers. If they do not choose to do that, they might just relocate outside of the areas that the MTA serves. The latter scenario could have a good/bad impact depending on what state you are in.
If the state was to implement this payroll tax, other states could use this as an opportunity to encourage businesses to relocate with less overall cost to them. Our economy is in a recession that will probably last for quite awhile so don’t think for one second that companies would not jump at such an offer if it was presented by other states nearby.
Seriously who in their right mind would consider new taxes when our economy is in a steady downturn? Basic economics tell you that doing such a thing is never a good idea & that hasn’t changed. With our economy in such a downturn, we should be encouraging companies to create jobs, not give them a free pass to cut them. As I said the amount on paper sounds low but this would cost a lot more in the long run.
So we basically raise taxes during an economic downturn, CHECK!
Impact real estate prices, CHECK!
Encourage companies to either relocate, layoff employees, create less jobs, or all 3, CHECK!
So to sum it up an idea of a payroll tax is so bad it is starting to make congestion pricing look attractive to me, & we all know how I feel about that!
I am really curious to hear what other proposals the Ravitch Commission will make. I hope they have some other ideas as the chances of these proposals passing seems iffy at best.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Bus Routes Affected By Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
Just a few minutes ago the MTA sent out a press release via e-mail. The release was to announce some bus routes will be affected due to the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center. Here are the complete details:
Due to the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center, several streets in the vicinity of the center (5th Avenue between 47th and 50th Streets) will be closed to traffic by the New York City Police Department between approximately 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
As a result, the following New York City Transit local and express bus routes, as well as routes belonging to MTA Bus, will either be rerouted and/or experience significant delays in service:
M1, M2, M3, M4, M27/M50, Q32, X1, X6, X7, X9, X12/42, X14, X27/37, X28/38, X29, BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, BxM4c, BxM6, BxM7, BxM9 and BxM11
In addition, the 47th-50th Streets/Rockefeller Center station B D F V, as well as the 5th Avenue-53rd Street station E V may experience overcrowding and stairway closures.
Customers are advised to avoid the area tonight, where possible. Customers may call our Travel Information Center at 718-330-1234 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, or log onto www.tripplanner.mta.info to use Trip Planner to plan their trips. Customers with web enabled phones or PDAs can use our Trip Planner On-the-Go! by going to www.tripplanner.mta.info/mobile; in addition to planning their trips, Blackberry users can download the free icon for one touch access to the service.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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TSTC Looks Into LIRR Doomsday Scenarios
As everyone knows by now, if something doesn’t change soon, the MTA will most likely implement a severe fare hike coupled with service cuts & eliminations. In the proposed budget that was presented at the last MTA Board meeting, each division within the MTA featured some sort of cuts or eliminations. Some of the cuts for the Long Island Rail Road included the West Hempstead branch losing complete weekend service. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s Communications Associate Steven Higashide has more in this report:
Along with a 23% fare increase, the MTA’s doomsday budget means serious service cuts for Long Island Rail Road, especially on the Port Washington and West Hempstead branches. Systemwide, the financial crunch means less money for maintenance, safety, and service quality issues like station and car appearance.
The agency’s plan to save $54 million in 2009 includes:
* Elimination of all weekend service on the West Hempstead branch, major cuts in off-peak and weekend service on the Port Washington branch (weekend and off-peak service would run hourly at times when it now runs half hourly), and elimination of trains to Belmont (except during the Belmont Stakes).
Like the other MTA agencies, the LIRR is also making administrative cuts. In addition, it will raise $3 million by selling advertising on the sides of some trains.
If the MTA ends up having to pass its doomsday budget, LIRR riders will be paying more and getting less service, more crowded trains, more run-down stations, and more dangerous platforms.
Click here for the complete entry.
As a person who rides the Long Island Rail Road often as compared to driving, I know first hand how many of us feel about the railroad’s operations. It is safe to assume that most of us do feel like we are overpaying for the quality of service we receive.
However with saying that, I feel that of all the proposed service cuts or eliminations on the table, the end of weekend West Hempstead branch service makes the most sense. The line has extremely low ridership especially off-peak.
I agree with many fellow transit buffs who see the line as nothing more than a glorified shuttle. The local residents of this line have better options to the north & south of them where they can get more frequent service on the Babylon & Hempstead branches respectively. Even some of the Long Island bus routes such as the N3, N15, N25, N31, & N32 are better options. So would it really be bad to save money by cutting back operations a low ridership branch?
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Ravitch Might Recommend Improved Bus Service
Two days from now, the long awaited Ravitch Commission report will be delivered to Governor Patterson & legislative leaders. The report which has been in the works for months now is supposed to be “recommending strategies to fund MTA capital projects and operating needs over the next ten years.” A week ago today, the New York Times released a sneak peek at some of the proposals that are expected to be in the report.
However according to one of my favorite blogs, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s “Mobilizing The Region”, the report might contain a recommendation for improved bus service throughout the MTA’s operating region. The TSTC’s Executive Director Kate Slevin as more in this report:
Along with East River bridge tolls and additional payroll taxes, MTR has learned that improved bus service throughout the MTA region will be a key recommendation of the MTA Financing Commission led by Richard Ravitch.
Along with those proposals, insiders tell MTR that Ravitch is likely to recommend improved bus service, including increased investment in bus rapid transit and the establishment of a MTA Regional Bus Authority. The latter would take control of suburban bus systems like Long Island Bus and Westchester’s Bee-Line Bus, potentially ending the annual battles over funding and resulting in substantial service improvements for bus riders.
Click here for the complete report.
I strongly agree with the sentiment that more money should be invested in ways to improve bus service. Such initiatives as Select Bus Service have proven to be a success & would be a welcome addition to many routes in our region.
As far as a regional authority taking over suburban bus operations is concerned, I would love to hear more details on how it would be done. While I have stated many times that I have never rode or choose to ride Long Island Bus, I know plenty who have or continue to do so. If such an authority can help improve bus service & funding, I feel it is a no-brainer that it must be considered.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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MTA Police Break Ground On New Headquarters
Earlier today the MTA Police broke ground on their new headquarters which will be located in Central Islip. Here is a press release that was issued via e-mail with more information:
MTA Long Island Rail Road broke ground today for a new facility for the MTA Police in Central Islip that will improve communications, investigations and allow a quicker response to emergencies in the Suffolk County section of the Railroad’s territory.
“The security and safety of our customers is always our No. 1 priority,” said LIRR President Helena Williams. “This new facility will improve our response time to emergencies and is another important step in ensuring a secure ride for our customers. I want to thank all the community leaders and elected officials who worked together with the MTA to make this facility a reality. Also, I want to acknowledge all our MTA Police Officers who provide first-class service to the LIRR and its customers.”
The two-story, 12,000-square foot building to be constructed at 10 West Suffolk Avenue, one-half mile west of the Central Islip train station, is replacing trailers that currently house the MTA Police District One patrol force. The new building will accommodate a staff of commanding officers, patrol officers, detectives, and commanding officers, as well as administrative staff. It also will have space for training, a K-9 unit and a motor pool to maintain and repair emergency response vehicles.
“Ensuring the safety and security of our customers and the general public is in many respects the most important thing we do,” said Elliot G. Sander, the Executive Director and CEO of the MTA. “Within the past year and a half and in collaboration with our regional law enforcement partners, we have dramatically increased our police presence aboard commuter trains to 1,000 patrols and inspections per day, up from just 50 earlier. This new headquarters will prove to be a key support facility as our officers conduct these patrols.”
A key aspect of the new facility is a secure interview space that can be used to question suspects, something that cannot be done in the present trailers. The trailers have never been an adequate police building and have long been considered an eyesore by the surrounding community.
“The men and women of the MTA Police do a first rate job 24 hours a day, seven days a week and they deserve a first rate police facility,” said MTA Police Chief Michael Coan. “Our officers provide a secure safe environment for the millions of people who ride the Long Island Rail Road each year. It is their quick response to the myriad of calls they get each day that help to keep the trains operating on time.”
“Today’s groundbreaking of the new MTA Police substation at Central Islip is the culmination of a significant process between the MTA, LIRR, Suffolk County, Town of Islip and the local community, which will provide a very important addition to the redevelopment of this area,” said Mitchell H. Pally, Suffolk County representative to the MTA Board. “I congratulate all concerned in providing the funding and support necessary to allow this project to go forward.”
MTA Police District One, covers Suffolk County which has 41 LIRR stations, 216 grade crossings, 7 LIRR yards, as well as storage/repair facilities and 22 sub-stations.
“The MTA and Long Island Rail Road are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people in our county, both to and from New York City,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. “The location of a new MTA police facility in Central Islip is a good step in our ongoing efforts to ensure public safety.”
State Assemblyman Phil Ramos said “On behalf of the constituents in the 6th Assembly District, I welcome the MTA’s presence in our area. Given the expanded role the MTA will be playing in the heart of Central Islip, I believe it can serve as a valuable partner in our efforts to revitalize the downtown area and move towards a safer, more prosperous community.”
Suffolk County Legislator Ricardo Montano (D-Central Islip) said “the new MTA Police facility is just another positive step in the re-development and re-vitalization of the Central Islip community.” Montano added “This state-of-the-art facility will provide our residents with additional police presence to ensure that community residents can feel safe and secure in the neighborhood.”
Islip Town Councilman Steve Flotteron said “The town is thankful and excited about the MTA making such a positive investment and partnering with the community in revitalization in Central Islip.”
Islip Town Councilman Chris Bodkin said “This is a much needed facility – now more than ever the LIRR is a key part of our infrastructure and needs the best protection we
can get.”The new police building will comply with New York State Executive Order 111, requiring new municipal construction to meet strict energy-efficient guidelines for lighting, heating, cooling and insulation. The building is expected to open for police business in March 2010 and finishing touches on the outside, including landscaping will be done three months later.
Funded from the MTA/LIRR Capital Program, the cost of new police facility is $11.5 million. Lipsky Enterprises, Inc., a construction firm from Bayport, will be doing the construction work.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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