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Question Of The Week 10-07-07 – 10-14-07

Posted by
on October 10th, 2007 at 12:26 pm

I have just finished an update Eye On Transit. The update includes the results of last week’s “Question Of The Week”. This week’s “Question Of The Week” features 2 questions which both relate to the press release issued by the MTA yesterday regarding public hearings for the proposed fare & toll hikes.

As usual the poll closes Sunday at 11:59 p.m. EST so get your votes in now!

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Question Of The Week
3

LIRR Billing Snafu Update

Posted by
on October 10th, 2007 at 11:49 am

The MTA has updated its Long Island Railroad (LIRR) service alert regarding the huge billing snafu that affected at least 19,000 LIRR customers. The updated service alert states:

LIRR Customers:

As a result of a computer software problem, some LIRR customers who used credit cards to purchase LIRR tickets between September 25th (when a new software program was installed) and October 8th were double billed. It is now estimated that at least 19,000 customers were affected. The LIRR has issued credits to all 19,000 known customers who were double billed and is manually checking transaction records to identify other customers who may be entitled to credits.

Many customers have already seen the credit on their statement. LIRR customers who were double billed do not have to take any action to receive credit. However, if they have any questions or concerns, they may call the LIRR’s Automated Ticket Sales office toll free at 1-877-LIRR-TSM (1-877-547-7876). This office is staffed weekdays from 7 AM – 3 PM.

The LIRR regrets any inconvenience this software problem may have caused. The vendor who built and services the LIRR’s Ticket Machines – Scheidt & Bachmann – has identified the software problem. A software fix was implemented late last night.

The LIRR assures its customers that measures are being taken by the Railroad to make certain this problem does not occur again.

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0

LIRR Politicians Urge MTA To Reconsider A Fare Hike….

Posted by
on October 10th, 2007 at 11:33 am

LIRR train pulling into Woodside Station 02-20-06
(LIRR train pulling into Woodside Station; resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit

Today’s edition of the New York Newsday has an article about 8 Long Island state senators who contacted the MTA. All 8 of Long Island’s Republican state senators sent a letter to the MTA Chairman asking him to reconsider the proposed fare hike. The senators plan on conducting an online petition via their respective websites to help out their cause.

The MTA’s proposed fare hike calls for an average increase of base fares by 6.5%. Unfortunately this increase does not sit well with local politicians throughout Long Island who feel this increase is not a necessity. The strongly worded letter includes some interesting comments. Here are a few quotes from the letter:

Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) – “If you’re going to ask people to spend $100 or $200 more a month, you’d really better come with very strong reasons other than, ‘We think we’d like to keep up with the cost of living.”

Source unknown – “When coupled with the MTA’s projected surpluses, this failure reinforces our belief that these planned fare increases are a measure of convenience rather than a financial necessity.”

It seems the letter also references the August 2007 report by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli which states the MTA only saved 41% of its intended savings for the year 2006. They expected a bigger increase in savings from cost cutting measures that were implemented.

As one would expect, the MTA has a different perspective on the necessity of the proposed fare hike. MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin issued a statement about the necessity of the agency’s planned fare hike. His statement was:

“Putting off a fare increase this year will only require a much steeper increase and unacceptable service cuts in 2009.”

Personally I can’t wait to read the entire letter that was sent to the MTA chairman. I bet it is quite an interesting read.

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Fare Hike
0

Speaking Of Numbers…..

Posted by
on October 10th, 2007 at 11:10 am

Monday’s edition of the New York Post featured an article about the two proposed fare hikes. The article had a catchy title which was “MTA WON’T TREAT ALL RIDERS FARE-LY.” The article broke down how the two tiered fare hike proposal would not be fair to all riders. However the biggest hit of the article might be the online fare hike calculator that was created.

I first read about this article & calculator in an entry written by The Subway Blogger. The calculator is merely nothing more than a table with a built in drop down menu. However Benjamin Kubak’s Second Avenue Sagas does make an excellent point about how this calculator could be used as a nice cheat sheet for those attending the meeting.

Personally I happen to agree with The Subway Blogger in saying that fare hike option #1 is better. I like him are an avid purchaser of unlimited monthly Metrocards. The last thing I would want to do is support a proposal that increases my cost to help the least amount of riders. The fact that proposal #2 helps the least amount of people is reason enough not to support it. Passing on the extra cost to unlimited monthly Metrocard users as myself is the icing on the cake.

Down with fare hike proposal #2!!!!!

One last thing that has me scratching my head. Why did the MTA not schedule a meeting to be located in Suffolk County. Many LIRR riders reside in Suffolk as well & deserve their own hearing just like those in Nassau.

For those wondering, I do plan on attending at least one of the hearings depending on my schedule. The most convenient hearing would be the one at Lehman College. If I can’t make that one, I will attend the hearing either in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Queens.

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2

Time To Speak Up!

Posted by
on October 10th, 2007 at 10:43 am

Yesterday the MTA issued a press release which is of great interest to drivers & straphangers all over the tri-state area. The press was to announce the 8 scheduled public hearings in regards to the proposed fare & toll hikes. The hearings will take place in all 5 boroughs along with Nassau, Rockland, & Westchester counties respectively. Here is the schedule for those hearings:

    Monday, November 5, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
    Grand Ballroom
    333 Adams Street, Brooklyn
    Monday, November 5, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Palisades Center
    Raso Community Room, 4th floor
    1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack
    Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Farmingdale State College
    Roosevelt Hall – Little Theater
    2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale
    Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel
    Ballroom
    135-20 39th Avenue, Flushing, Queens
    Thursday, November 8, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Westchester County Center
    East Wing, 1st floor
    198 Central Avenue, White Plains
    Thursday, November 8, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Hotel Pennsylvania
    Ball Room, 2nd floor
    401 7 Avenue (West 32 and West 33 Streets), Manhattan
    Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Michael J. Petrides Educational Complex
    Auditorium, Building C
    715 Ocean Terrance, Staten Island
    Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 6 p.m.
    Lehman College
    Speech and Theater Building
    Lovinger Theatre, 1st floor
    250 Bedford Park Boulevard, Bronx

For the first time ever, the MTA has scheduled a public engagement workshop to discuss the fare & toll hikes along with their vision for the next 5 – 10 years. There also plans to hold an online workshop to discuss the same issues.

Ever since the fare hike was discussed, many fellow bloggers & straphangers have shared their strong opinion for & against the proposed fare & toll hikes. I am hoping the same passion that was displayed on blogs & in print about these issues translates into a big attendance at all of these public hearings. While one could argue these hearings are nothing more than MTA grandstanding, it is not an excuse to stay quiet. How can anyone expect change if they are just going to make initial statements & not follow up on them? The answer is they can not & this is a time to show our strength in numbers!

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