Comments on: With fare hike on tap for ’09, NYS legislature must fulfill old promises http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/ A New York City Subway Blog Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:18:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ronnel Alfred http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-57362 Ronnel Alfred Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:05:25 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-57362 Does any one know where i can find a blue metro card? i need it for a scavneger hunt n i have no clue where i can find one Does any one know where i can find a blue metro card? i need it for a scavneger hunt n i have no clue where i can find one

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » Fare Hike 2009: What the pols and papers are saying http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40498 Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » Fare Hike 2009: What the pols and papers are saying Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:46:11 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40498 [...] Within the same piece, state officials are threatening audits of the MTA’s books and are exhibiting exceptional grandstanding talents. “We are not at the point now where anyone should be talking about a fare increase,” Richard Brodsky, the Assembly representative who told the MTA he would deliver more money for the financially strapped transit agency, said. To him, I say, again, show them the money. [...] [...] Within the same piece, state officials are threatening audits of the MTA’s books and are exhibiting exceptional grandstanding talents. “We are not at the point now where anyone should be talking about a fare increase,” Richard Brodsky, the Assembly representative who told the MTA he would deliver more money for the financially strapped transit agency, said. To him, I say, again, show them the money. [...]

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » As train delays mount, MTA hunting for a source http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40361 Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » As train delays mount, MTA hunting for a source Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:17:59 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40361 [...] news of the fare hike dominated the papers this morning, another big story concerning train service made the front pages [...] [...] news of the fare hike dominated the papers this morning, another big story concerning train service made the front pages [...]

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40359 Benjamin Kabak Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:53:00 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40359 Scott, you do raise a good point. The MTA is getting fleeced by the city in its dealings with student MetroCards actually. The city and state each contribute $45 million to the MTA to cover the costs of these cards, but the total cost to the MTA is $71.5 million more than that $90 million our government contributes. (You can read more about that <a href="http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/09/the-great-student-metrocard-swindle/" rel="nofollow">in this post</a>.) You're right; the city and state should be meeting their financial obligations to the MTA, and right now, they just aren't. Scott, you do raise a good point. The MTA is getting fleeced by the city in its dealings with student MetroCards actually. The city and state each contribute $45 million to the MTA to cover the costs of these cards, but the total cost to the MTA is $71.5 million more than that $90 million our government contributes. (You can read more about that in this post.)

You’re right; the city and state should be meeting their financial obligations to the MTA, and right now, they just aren’t.

]]> By: ScottE http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40358 ScottE Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:47:07 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40358 When I posted my comment above, I thought the CITY was supposed to subsidize the fares, not the MTA -- and that either the city wasn't paying or the MTA wasn't collecting. I was not trying to suggest that the discounted fare programs be eliminated. When I posted my comment above, I thought the CITY was supposed to subsidize the fares, not the MTA — and that either the city wasn’t paying or the MTA wasn’t collecting.

I was not trying to suggest that the discounted fare programs be eliminated.

]]> By: Todd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40323 Todd Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:24:11 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40323 <i>to cover this gap through farebox revenue would require increases of nearly 33 to 50 percent</i> Damn. Makes 8% look pretty good in comparison. to cover this gap through farebox revenue would require increases of nearly 33 to 50 percent

Damn. Makes 8% look pretty good in comparison.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40317 Ian Turner Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:40:41 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40317 As a requirement of recieving federal funding, the MTA is required to provide a discount of at least 50% to seniors during off-peak hours. I'm not sure about students. As a requirement of recieving federal funding, the MTA is required to provide a discount of at least 50% to seniors during off-peak hours. I’m not sure about students.

]]> By: Ed http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40315 Ed Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:19:27 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40315 What is the policy justification for subsidizing students' and seniors' fares? I realize these groups are short of funds (not so much the seniors) but why not subsidze them and not the indigent generally. Its not that its not nice to do this, I'm questioning whether it should take priority over updating the signal system, or even repainting the stations, if it comes to that. What is the policy justification for subsidizing students’ and seniors’ fares? I realize these groups are short of funds (not so much the seniors) but why not subsidze them and not the indigent generally.

Its not that its not nice to do this, I’m questioning whether it should take priority over updating the signal system, or even repainting the stations, if it comes to that.

]]> By: ScottE http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/07/22/with-fare-hike-on-tap-for-%e2%80%9909-nys-legislature-must-fulfill-old-promises/#comment-40308 ScottE Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:35:37 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1018#comment-40308 To add to the above article, Newsday <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-limta225772714jul22,0,6935485.story" rel="nofollow">posted a breakdown</a> on how the MTA plans to balance the books without service cuts. Copied below: <i>$45 million: Internal belt-tightening over the next four years $135 million: Borrowed from an account that funds retirees' medical costs $120 million: Unspent funds from a 2006 surplus $10 million: Capping subsidies to Long Island Bus at $10 million ($20 million spent this year) $10 million: Asking other city and state agencies to pay for their employees' E-ZPasses $60 million: Expected elimination of federal mandates $100 million: Greater city and state subsidies for students' and seniors' fares $110 million: Increased city funding for paratransit $60 million: Tax restoration from state for revenue MTA expected but never realized $50 million: Closing tax loopholes $200 million: An 8 percent fare hike in mid-2009</i> Some of these sound long overdue (internal belt tightening, spend the money from an '06 surplus, greater city/state subsidies for students and seniors) while others seem downright irrresponsible (borrow from retirees' medical funds, eliminate compliance with federal mandates). I truly believe that a restructuring of how things gets done is in order -- the amount of waste over there is unbelievable. I'll give Sander credit for attempting to right the ship, and its a big job to infuse new cultures in an old, stodgy organization. --- About a year ago, I saw an ad in the legal section of the New York Post. The MTA was soliciting bids for a contractor to "furnish ten pairs of work boots". Bids were due, signed and sealed, in their offices by a certain date. Someone would then review the bids and award the contract. Eventually, the boots would be provided, at a likely exhorbitant cost to the MTA and a windfall profit to the provider. Wouldn't it have been much easier and much cheaper to send someone to the Penn Station K-mart? To add to the above article, Newsday posted a breakdown on how the MTA plans to balance the books without service cuts. Copied below:

$45 million: Internal belt-tightening over the next four years
$135 million: Borrowed from an account that funds retirees’ medical costs
$120 million: Unspent funds from a 2006 surplus
$10 million: Capping subsidies to Long Island Bus at $10 million ($20 million spent this year)
$10 million: Asking other city and state agencies to pay for their employees’ E-ZPasses
$60 million: Expected elimination of federal mandates
$100 million: Greater city and state subsidies for students’ and seniors’ fares
$110 million: Increased city funding for paratransit
$60 million: Tax restoration from state for revenue MTA expected but never realized
$50 million: Closing tax loopholes
$200 million: An 8 percent fare hike in mid-2009

Some of these sound long overdue (internal belt tightening, spend the money from an ‘06 surplus, greater city/state subsidies for students and seniors) while others seem downright irrresponsible (borrow from retirees’ medical funds, eliminate compliance with federal mandates).

I truly believe that a restructuring of how things gets done is in order — the amount of waste over there is unbelievable. I’ll give Sander credit for attempting to right the ship, and its a big job to infuse new cultures in an old, stodgy organization.

—

About a year ago, I saw an ad in the legal section of the New York Post. The MTA was soliciting bids for a contractor to “furnish ten pairs of work boots”. Bids were due, signed and sealed, in their offices by a certain date. Someone would then review the bids and award the contract. Eventually, the boots would be provided, at a likely exhorbitant cost to the MTA and a windfall profit to the provider.

Wouldn’t it have been much easier and much cheaper to send someone to the Penn Station K-mart?

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