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PCAC report focuses on MTA communications issues

by Benjamin Kabak

Earlier this morning, I introduced the Permanent Citizens Adivsory Committee’s annual report by examining their critique of New York City Transit. Let’s take a peak at what the PCAC had to say about the folks upstairs at the MTA>

The Good

The PCAC runs through the typical list of good things at the MTA. They are very high on the expertise and people skills that MTA CEO and Executive Director Elliot “Lee” Sander has brought to the job. After past leaders proved their inability to do much (cough cough Peter Kalikow cough cough), Sander has indeed been a blast of fresh air. The Committee also praises the MTA for its ambitious capital construction program, the first steps toward regional transportation integration, and their willingness to improve their emergency preparedness in the wake of the August 8th floods.

Where my opinion differs with the PCAC is in the realm of Website building and the presentation of information. The PCAC — whose own Website is, in a word, ugly — praises the MTA for their “information accessibility” and its Website. While the public workshops were steps in the right direction, I had a mixed reaction to it. The moderators weren’t the best, and it was tough to tell if the MTA officials were truly listening.

As for the MTA’s Website, it’s true, as the PCAC notes, that the homepage is better, but once a user starts navigating past those early links, it’s a disaster of outdate information, outdated links and inconsistent formatting. This criticism deserves a post of its own, but for now, I’ll just say that the MTA’s Website needs a complete and total overhaul.

Needs Improvement

Here, the PCAC gets a little technical. The MTA needs to do more with Transit-Oriented Development; the MTA needs to put more of a focus internally on IT and agency-wide technology solutions; the MTA should put their monthly Board and Committee Agendas online. I can’t argue with any of that. Note, however, that the MTA’s plan for the next twenty years is heavy on the Transit-Oriented Development. That’s great for the suburbs and boring for us urban dwellers.

The Bad

For this, the PCAC picks two tangible projects: They are not happy with the efforts to improve security for the MTA transportation network, and they aren’t happy with the whole 7 Line Extension funding drama. The security issue is one that has long plagued the MTA. Lockheed Martin won a contract in 2005 to install cameras and security sensors, but the defense contractor has made little progress. The MTA should put some pressure on its business partners to shape up or ship out.

As for the 7 line, I have long noted that the blame lays with the city. Mayor Bloomberg promised to fund the extension as part of his terrible Olympics idea. When that fell through, the station suddenly became too expensive, and the City has left the cash-strapped MTA in an awkward position. The City should do the right thing and pay for this station. It’s not fair to blame the MTA for this funding debacle.

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