On Demand
MTA Under Fire
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Doreen Frasca, the governor's appointee to the MTA board and chair of the NYC transit committee, discusses the latest news on the MTA fare hike and service cuts.
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I have a shoe for Doreen.
Ask her if she takes the subway on a daily basis?
Answer NO!
Ask her about the buses:
1. Why are there no smaller buses? So many buses are only 1/4 full throughout the route (although some are overflowing).
2. Why can't Manhattanites use the express buses for normal fare when the bus is already in Manhattan and terminates in Manhattan. This is wasteful because people wait for local buses when the express is empty.
Important question: Why was that guy arrested, and for what?
This was a public hearing, where the public was allowed to speak. He was, I have read, speaking during his own turn.
Was it because her didn't display enough decorum? What did he do that was criminal?
Or does the board so want to be insulated from the anger of straphangers that they are willing to make speech a criminal offense?
MTA has the same problem as airlines--charging too little for the value received by customers.
MTA's solution (as well as the solution for airlines) should be to double fares to $4. The results will be:
- Less congestion
- More pleasant riding experience for customers
- Money to improve stations, infrastructure and trains
Yes, you are discussing service cuts. But can we for a moment discuss the MTA's terrible handling of it's real estate assets. Why, for example, is it selling its 8-acre Vanderbilt Rail Yard to Bruce Ratner for $100 million when there was a competing offer for $150 million and the site was appraised, by the MTA, for $214.5 million.
And now Ratner doesn't even want to pay anytime soon, according the NY Observer.
(http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/atlantic-yards-becomes-question-mark)
And that is just one bad land deal. Had the MTA handled its real estate assets wisely, perhaps we'd have fewer service cuts and fewer fare hikes.
A year or two ago, there was a report about the number of lawyers on the MTA payroll (something on the order of 400). How about cutting some of them?
How about cutting compensation for MTA executives?
Labor stats show that management is often _less_ affected during labor cuts. No surprise -- managers are hardly going to lay themselves off. (David Mamet said something like this on the Lehrer Show or on Lopate).
So how about some management layoffs?
I like David Patterson, and this is kind of along the lines of his talk the other day. If there's no millionaires tax, b/c they're afraid of the millionaires moving out, then what happens if all this squeezing of the middle class just makes them move out? I live in Brooklyn, make under $40,000 and I'm thinking of getting out of here.
I'm wondering what difference might have been made in these cutbacks if New York had not shortsightedly rejected (failed to apply for) the massive federal funding for mass transit infrastructure that was available earlier this year.
These proposals are completely unacceptable. I understand the elimination of the M, G and W services. However, the N skipping trains downtown, and closing stations is ridiculous. The "reasonable" walking distance with the 4 does not make sense. The 4 goes up the East side and the N ends up on the west before Queens, where the 4 doesn't even go to. How is this reasonable? I work for the city so I understand taxes vs service = debt. I take the 2/3 to work but it does affect me since I do go out a lot on the weekends, but taking the trains like the 4 where I have had to wait for one or two traisn to go by before I could get on. What's going to happen now? I avoid the buses now because of extreme inadequacy. The buses would be completely useless after this. There are other revenue options the government could have taken and abandoned. The subway has long been the pride of NYC and envious of the world. I am now embarrased to be called a New yorker. The commuter tax reinstatement would being in more then half of the shortfall, and the elimination of the propert tax rebate would fill the reast. Why do we keep ignoring it?
Clearly the MTA board members don't ride the trains at night. Riding the train home after midnight already resembles rush hour with crowded trains and many many people standing. Further service cuts at night are a very bad idea!
The single best way to impact the quality of life for New Yorkers would be to make the subways car more crowded.
It will create more stress. It will increase commute time, lessening time with families and friends. All for millions of people.
And this is better than raising fares by about $1/day?
Baloney (and I don't be Carolyn this time) cutbacks have started weeks ago already. The wait for a 4 or 5 train is much longer.
I'm not a big fan of all these tolls on the bridges, but I wanted to point out that the Staten Island Ferry is free (no cars allowed though).
Can we walk across the bridges without having to pay a toll?
Where will the money come from to repair the increased road damage due to an increase in driving that these service cuts will likely cause?
Also, I can understand the argument that it's an unfair burden to pay $8 to drive across the East river, but I don't understand the arguement that drivers should get to use the roads for free, while subway riders have to pay for that usage. Why can't there be both a slight subway fare increase AND a toll that is equal to the subway fare? Why shouldn't drivers pay more for their damage to the roads than non-drivers. Subway riders pay more for the subways than non-riders.
One thing the folks at MTA aren't including in their economic models, is the value of the benefits gained by keeping people out of their cars. Pollution, congestion, noise. All of these have costs and are WORTH something. Unfortunately people have a difficult time placing a dollar value on them and thus taking them into account when assessing the 'real' cost of public transit.
Absolutely right, Mark! I know quite a few people -- many of them artists -- who are looking at moving out of New York because it is becoming _impossible_ to live here.
Less work, lower paying work, higher commuting costs, higher housing costs, deteriorating schools.
Prediction: The Rent Guidelines Board will _still_ raise rents next year.
I heard on the news that the MTA isn't turning over a property to the purchaser. They need to modify the property before turning it over and they are paying $300,000 a day in fines until they do!!!!! The total so far was something ridiculously high. Why don't the look for waste in their budget to cut first. I ride the 2/3 train.It's often hell getting to work on the weekends.
MTA Board member doesn't know Queens is the
largest boro geographically? Shouldn't
we have more familiar people in charge?
We've got major traffic congestion that needs to be dealt with. The transit systems are barely able to keep up with ridership. And, there's no money to fix anything. Here's the solution: Institute a $20 toll for all passenger cars on the bridges and tunnels. This will reduce traffic and generate a lot of money for mass transit. If you are hell-bent on driving, you are more than welcome to...if you pay for it.
If the cost of a monthly metrocard goes above $100 I am buying a Vespa. I don't even like Vespas but it would be cheaper and more convenient to have one than it would to purchase the monthly luxury of riding in the crowded filth of the New York City subway system.
Also - the L train might be nice but having to wait for at least two trains to pass during rush-hour isn't worth it.
She just claimed that there are new trains on nearly every line. I haven't seen that on the A/C/E or the B/D/F/V at all. In fact they've started circulating _older_ trains on our lines and shortening trains, leading to more crowding.
Good grief! How do these people expect the deficit to be paid for throughout the city. Every time a tax or price increase is mentioned in any form everyone throws their hands up in protest. How do they think the city can pay for these things?!
And to the caller who complained that we don't have as plush a travel as Finland...we also don't have 50% income tax. Yes, transit systems are cleaner and more civilized in other cities. Many of those cities have trains that are four cars long and stop running at midnight. This is NYC, baby. We have the volume that none of these cities have. Bring a book and put on your ipod like everyone else!
Oh why do you let her defend the crappy treatment we get, Why? Service has got worse over the past month as it ALWAYS does when these cuts and increases are in the works. Within 10 min period the other day three trains went out of service in the Bx on my way home from my mom's and there was no real reason for that no matter what they say. She's full of crap and you allow her to spew it. Why don't YOU question her and these tired, old excuses about upgrading and improving and nothing ends up getting upgraded nor improved. STOP IT and stop giving these people a platform to spew these lies.
I have always wondered why the Staten Island ferry is free. Do you know anything about the history of that freebie? Why not charge for the ferry.
BTW the service cuts won't affect me b/c I ride my bike to work in midtown every day all year long. Except if it's a downpour or icy.
Ms Fasca did not
address the issue of transparency regarding
MTA budget allocations salaries etc. that was put
to her from a caller.
I live in Astoria, where we have only two options, the N or the W. The service is attrocious as it is. It takes me hours to get home on the late night weekends from manhattan, and I live two blocks from my subway.
Further,I work near the UN, and I can't understand why the MTA proposes cutting, already limited service to the burroughs while wasting money on a redundant 2nd Ave subway. Many of my colleagues happily walk from grand central or just take th 1st Ave bus.
Now is not the time to be cutting public transportation. We should be investing in increased mass transit and providing better service rather than doing the opposite. I think riders need to start speaking up. Car drivers have effectively argued for their rights; why don't public transit riders enjoy similar rights? We need to start having a serious conversation about whether driving can be supported to the extent that it is in this city and how we can fund public transit more sufficiently.
I'd also like to ask why trains like the C and G trains are shorter when more people are riding those lines. I don't understand why any trains should be shorter. Wouldn't it more efficient to have longer trains?
It's splitsville for me. I'm old enough to remember NYC during the days of Abe Beame and David Berkowitz and that's where we are headed. Adios big apple.
The main problem that the MTA has is the cheap fare it charges, seriously what is what "real new yorkers" want? a free ride? have the new yorkers (that complain complain and complain) been in other cities around the world? Train stations are beautiful and clean. I wouldn't mind pay 10% 20% 40% more if it means that the subway system will have a real improvement.
The services cuts at night are the worst thing ever, many many times I HAVE no other option than grabbing a cab who charges me at least 20 dollars (and God protect me if i don't leave a "decent" tip")! I do it at least 4 times a week . please increase the rates for a best service.
If headway at night is going to be increased to 30 minutes why can't the MTA print a schedule like the commuter lines so those traveling at night can get to the station when the train pulls in instead of waiting 30 minutes in a decrepit station. With that amount of headway the schedules should be accurate since there won't be any congestion or traffic delays. If service is to be reduced at least give info about time of arrival so you don't miss one of the few night trains.
The Second Avenue subway runs through the rich Upper East Side! This women is cluesless!
To those inquiring about the "free" aspect of the SI Ferry: If I remember correctly, it was a Giuliani scheme to buy off the Island commuters when the city decided not to link SI into the subway system over the Verrazano. If we had to pay for the Ferry we would be the only borough who would have an additional toll on Mass transit when travelling between boroughs. Having us pay would be equivalent to having those in the other boroughs having to pay an additional toll when their train crosses via the bridges/tunnel.
If the DOT/MTA could figure out a way to work together and incorporate the Ferry into the MTA fare set-up, THEN charging a toll might work since mass transit commuters could get a free transfer. Though the free-transfer system needs a lot of work itself. If the trains are delayed (as they frequently are during rush hour), or if the headway time is increased, the transfer time limit expires and a second fare is taken off our metrocards when we make the bus/SIRT connection on the SI side, thus costing us a double-fare to make a single commute.
MTA stands for Metropolita Transit Authority, meaning the entity is for the People by the People!!! this is the basic legal base this company should work as. What we have is Imperial Transit with 200 directors making 6 figure incomes with f.e. nepothic structure and corruption you can see every day. This reminds me my landlord who takes rent but forgets about maintenance and service. It is a shame, un american and worse this is what Wall Street did to the People sucking it all to themselves. I think we have white color criminals doing ther dirty business with pocker face.
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