MTA Rescue Plan Elicits Muted Applause.

May 06, 2009 - 8:40am
by: Erik Engquist

Business and transit groups relieved at state’s agreement on a rescue package that limits fare increases to 10%, but concerned it’s only a short-term fix.

Local business and transit groups breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday as the state Legislature moved to approve a rescue plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

All are grateful that the 32 Senate Democrats finally reached consensus on a plan that will stave off service cuts and shrink a planned 23% fare increase to about 10%. But they recognize that it’s a short-term fix that probably won’t last more than two years, and maybe not even one.

“It’s important to recognize the victory. We have avoided what would have been the biggest fare hike in a generation and the most draconian service cuts in at least as long,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, an anti-car advocacy group. “In this economy, getting $2 billion in new money is no small feat.”

But he said the $400 million in annual capital funding provided by the plan is just a fraction of what is needed to keep the system in good repair and fund new projects.

“The capital plan is still largely unfunded,” said Mr. White. “We’re going to be back at this juncture again, maybe even before the year is out.”

The Legislature’s package of new taxes and fees provides funding for two years of what is expected to be a five-year, $25 billion MTA capital plan beginning in 2010. Lawmakers are now hoping that the economy recovers enough to provide the tax revenue needed for the balance of the capital plan.

“I’m not sure that the MTA is really fixed,” said Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. “It’s definitely a stopgap measure at best.”

Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City, a business group, said, “The fact that there is a funding plan to maintain the transportation system for the next two years is a good thing.” But she said the Legislature should have put tolls on the East River bridges, as the Ravitch Commission suggested last fall, or enacted congestion pricing, which state lawmakers rejected in April 2008. Either measure would have reduced traffic congestion and provided hundreds of millions of dollars for enhanced bus service.

Indeed, while the new plan raises money for the MTA from motorists through increased registration fees, it does nothing to discourage driving.

“There seems to be widespread belief now that drivers do have to pay their fair share, and that in this plan, they don’t do that,” Mr. White said. He added, “A 10% fare increase in another environment would be a big fight. The fact that we’re even calling this a victory speaks to the unique and dire circumstance we find ourselves in.”

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

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Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

MTA Fare Hike Hits Roadblock.

April 21, 2009.

Dear fellow New Yorkers,

The point of no return for the 25% fare hike on all NYC-region public transportation is getting closer. The MTA has already started the process of reprogramming fare machines and changing their signs and brochures.

Here's the good news. State legislators in Albany are feeling the heat and finally getting close to an alternative funding plan that would stop the massive fare increases and service cuts. [NYT, 4/21/09]

We got this far because of you - but we've got to keep the pressure on. Together, we've sent more than 10,000 messages to our legislators in Albany. If we can meet our new goal of 20,000 by the end of the week - we can win this fight.

Can you take a moment right now to send our message to five friends who ride the subways, buses, Metro-North or LIRR? Send mail using your own address book.

Or email your friends using our online form.

The New York State Senate, which has been the biggest sticking point in the fight to halt the hike, just released their own alternative funding plan for the MTA. The details are still emerging and the plan may not be ideal -- but the fact that they're taking action at all shows that the pressure is working. Now we need to turn up the heat. There are millions of us. That is, millions of transit riders in the NYC metro region. If enough of us speak out, politicians will listen, because we don't just ride, we also vote. http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/t/3865/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=1331 The clock is ticking. Let's make sure Albany hears the voice of transit riders.

Thank you, Dan L.

- Working Families Party

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

HALT the HIKE! Its NOT too late to SPEAK OUT!

March 31, 2009.

Dear Fellow Americans,

It's NOT too late.

I'm sure you've heard that the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) voted last week to raise fares by at least 25% on New York City subways, buses, Metro North and the Long Island Railroad.

They took this step because our state legislators in Albany failed to pass an alternative that would solve the MTA's budget crisis without these painful fare increases. Luckily, there's still time to halt the hike. If Albany can get its act together before May 31 (when the higher fares go into effect), they can prevent this crushing blow to New Yorkers already struggling with the economic downturn.

The clock is ticking, and your voice can make the difference. Here's how you can help:

1. Go to www.HaltTheHike.org and tell your legislators to save transit riders and halt the hike!

2. Download our Halt the Hike poster. It's available at HaltTheHike.org. Print it out and post it at your workplace, your apartment building, your co-op message board -- anywhere others will see it and take action too.

3. Send us photos of creative (but legal) places you've put up the poster -- we'll post the best images on our site. Submit by replying to this email. Again, there's still time to stop these fare increases, if enough New Yorkers pressure our state legislators to act. Visit www.HaltTheHike.org.

Sincerely,
Charles, Dan, & Bryan

Working Families Party

P.S. Albany's failure to act by May 31 will also mean elimination of the W and Z trains, 35 NYC bus lines, and serious cutbacks in service everywhere else. If your public transit service is bad enough already, take action at www.HaltTheHike.org today!

If you're able, Please consider helping Working Families fight for the little guy: We can't count on Wall Street. We rely on contributions from ordinary people like you to keep the WFP going. If you'd like to support our work, visit:

http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/contribute.php

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

NY Ferry sends S.O.S.

March 15, 2009 11:21 AM by: Lisa Fickenscher

photo by:Liz Baller,c. 2009. WEBSITE

NY Waterway's owner says next its berth is Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

When Captain Chesley Sullenberger landed US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson River in January, NY Waterway ferries arrived at the scene within minutes, fishing 142 of the 155 airline passengers from the icy water. Then the company transformed its ferry terminals at West 39th Street and in Weehawken, N.J., into triage centers.

Two months later, NY Waterway is the one in dire need of a rescue. The firm, which transports riders to Manhattan from Weehawken and other New Jersey ports, could go bankrupt this year. Its situation is so precarious that the company is preparing a lawsuit against US Airways to recoup the expenses it incurred during the rescue effort.

“We are embattled,” says Chief Executive Arthur Imperatore Sr. “The question is whether we can survive.”

His list of woes is long. Ridership in February dropped 12% from year-earlier levels, to 26,400 daily commuters. Revenue has been declining since autumn and is now off by $800,000 a month. Complicating matters, the company's three-year equipment loan—which expires in September—will not be renewed by its lender, CIT Group, as that financial company moves to minimize risk.

Mr. Imperatore wants a public agency, such as NJ Transit or the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, to acquire his company. He argues that the commuter ferry business is part of the mass-transit system and should be supported by public funds. He is likely to file for bankruptcy if he doesn't get his wish.

Captain Robert O'Brien, the U.S. Coast Guard's most senior official in New York, is concerned about NY Waterway's financial troubles.

“They are generally the Good Samaritan that responds to any emergency on the water,” he says.

During the 2003 blackout, the firm ferried 150,000 people out of Manhattan for free, forfeiting more than half a million dollars in fares. It also helped move people out of Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, and during the 2005 transit strike.

After the US Airways crash landing, NY Waterway was unable to operate some of its routes for nearly 48 hours. In addition, it paid employees overtime and incurred other expenses that it's still assessing as it prepares its claim against the carrier. Apart from the monetary issue, Mr. Imperatore is miffed that the airline's senior officials have yet to acknowledge his company's role.

Mr. Imperatore, the youngest of nine children, made his fortune in the trucking business. The 83-year-old multimillionaire started the ferry service 20 years ago after purchasing two miles of waterfront property in Weehawken, N.J., hoping to lure residents to the community.

To keep it afloat, he has spent his own money, including $20 million in the past three years alone.

Bailed out before

The last time Mr. Imperatore's venture ran into serious financial trouble, in 2005, real estate lawyer William Wachtel bailed it out. He took over 16 of the company's 34 boats—including the debt payments—and formed a separate company, BillyBey, which pays NY Waterway licensing and management fees to run that business.

Mr. Wachtel says that while ridership is down on his routes from Hoboken and Jersey City to the World Financial Center, BillyBey is “not in financial straits.” Nevertheless, he says it makes sense for a public transportation system to run the ferry business. “If public agencies see this as a good time to take over, then it's a vision I can embrace,” says Mr. Wachtel.

It's unclear whether government agencies agree. A spokesman for the Port Authority says, “We have a strong commitment to a healthy regional ferry service, and we have ongoing discussions with our partners,” but he declined to elaborate on specific talks with NY Waterway.

Mr. Imperatore doesn't relish ceding the company to others, but he simply can't support it anymore.

“I don't have any more money to invest,” he says. “It's like a bottomless pit.”

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

MTA Warns ‘Doomsday’ is Approaching.

If no rescue plan is adopted by March 25, the agency said it will begin laying the groundwork for fare increases, service reductions, and job cuts.

Crains NY
March 13, 2009. 3:13 pm
by: Matthew Sollars

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Friday that it will start to implement its “doomsday” budget on March 25 if the state Legislature does not pass a financial rescue plan.

The proposed budget would include fare increases of up to 30%, the elimination of some subway and bus lines, and layoffs for up to 1,100 transit workers.

A plan to stave off those increases was proposed in December by former MTA chairman Richard Ravitch. His plan calls for tolls on the Harlem and East River bridges and a payroll tax on all companies in the 12-county MTA service area. The idea has stalled in Albany, largely over opposition to the tolls. Legislators have also questioned the MTA’s finances and whether the agency’s deadline is real.

MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger made clear that while fare and service changes would not take effect on March 25, the agency needs to begin planning for them in order to finish the year with a balanced budget.

“This is not an artificial date,” said Mr. Hemmerdinger. “What our numbers showed is what we need to do to balance the budget by the end of the year, as required by law.”

Moreover, the MTA argues that without passage of a long-term financing plan, drastic cuts this year would only be the beginning. The agency estimates that even with the 30% fare increase and service reductions the system would run into another $300 million deficit next year.

“The pain that we see now is only going to get worse if the Ravitch plan is not adopted,” said MTA board member Allen Cappelli. “It’s time for the Legislature to demonstrate the leadership for which they were elected.”

Elliot Sander, the MTA’s chief executive officer, said state legislators faced a choice between continuing deficits for a shrinking transit system and a way to ensure stability and growth.

“If the Ravitch Plan is not adopted, we’ll be back here next year looking at a deficit that will be even greater,” said Mr. Sander.

Transit advocates were out in force at the hearing to call on the state senate—and especially Queens Democratic Majority Leader Malcolm Smith—to act.

Gene Russianoff, the president of the Straphangers Campaign, cited 14 bus lines in Mr. Smith’s district that would be eliminated if the cuts go through and urged transit riders to lobby their legislators.

“Call now or pay later,” said Mr. Russianoff.

"Our members appreciate the severity of the MTA's budget shortfall and our conference continues to work to address that while protecting taxpayers and straphangers," said a spokesman for Sen. Smith.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

MTA Doomsday Budget Revealed The W and Z trains could be elimated along with major late night and midday reductions.

From: NBC news, NY, Updated 8:18 AM EST, Tue, Nov 18, 2008.
Photographs: A. Golden, eyewash design, c. 2009.

See ya later, W. No, not the President. The train.

Faced with a $1.2 billion budget deficit that's growing by the day, the MTA is considering doomsday budget cuts that would eliminate W and Z trains, and cut G, J, M train service in half, the Daily News reported today.

Bus service also would be cut and straphangers would face longer waits for the train during midday and overnight, The News reported, citing sources familiar the proposal. The MTA also would eliminate 1,500 New York City Transit jobs. The plan will be unveiled at the MTA’s monthly board meeting tomorrow.

"It's a nightmare on weekends if trying to go to Queens as it is,” Zack Frank, 26, an actor from Queens told The News. "The MTA should worry about strengthening what it's got, not cutting it."

Under the plan, according to The News, the MTA would:

• Shut down the W and Z lines.
• Eliminate the J-train express service.
• Cut the G, J, and M train service in half.
• Eliminate dozens of bus routes overnight and on weekends.
• Run subways less frequently between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• Increase the time between trains running between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.

From: BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE MOVEMENT

STOP THE FARE HIKE! ROCK THE MTA’S BROOKLYN “PUBLIC HEARING”

BAIL OUT RIDERS, NOT THE BANKS! Wednesday, January 28 – 5 PM New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge 333 Adams Street between Fulton & Johnson

Protest at the MTA hearing

DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE, THEN DEMONSTRATE INSIDE!

The MTA is bringing its panel of bankers and billionaires to Brooklyn -- its very own Farehike-apolooza -- tomorrow night for another so-called public hearing.

Like last week, the Bail Out the People Movement will be there to confront the Wall Street executives and rally the people who come out to the hearing. On January 14, BOPM turned the sidewalk in front of the Hilton into a “People’s Public Hearing,” where transit workers, students and activists rallied 100 people against the MTA. The entire demonstration then marched en masse into the hearing (see YouTube coverage below).

On Wednesday, the demonstration will also continue inside the hearing, with dozens of placards demanding that the MTA scrap its plans to make workers bear the brunt of its debt crisis.

The Times said yesterday that this year 1 out of 6 people will be unemployed this year, a figure which does not take into account the number among immigrant workers and others. Bank of America just got $20 billion more.

Now is not the time to be raising fares and cutting services. Now’s the time for the banks to use the billions they’ve sucked out of mass transit, the treasury and our labor -- and BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE.

NO FARE HIKES -- NO LAYOFFS! NO SERVICE CUTS -- NO BRIDGE TOLLS!
Wednesday, January 28 – 5 PM
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams Street between Fulton & Johnson

A,C, TO BOROUGH HALL -- M,R TO LAWRENCE STREET -- 2,3,4,5 TO BOROUGH HALL

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

MTA passes doomsday budget - Your fare is increasing & services are decreasing.

December 17, 2008 10:04 am
MTA passes doomsday budget

MTA board members said Wednesday they still hope for a bailout from Albany or Washington that might allow them to avoid the increases.

(AP) - The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has passed a 2009 budget that ultimately would raise subway and bus fares in New York while cutting service.

The agency says it needs to raise fare and toll revenues by 23% in order to plug a budget gap worsened by the global financial crisis.

Board members say they still hope for a bailout from Albany or Washington that might allow them to avoid the increases.

Details of the hikes and cuts won't be finalized until early next year.

Under the worst-case scenario, a single bus or subway ride could rise to $2.50, and a monthly pass could cost around $100. Service cuts would include the elimination of bus and subway lines in areas where there is either low ridership or a duplication of services.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.