Comments on: Mythbusting the MTA fare hike

By: MTA Fare Hike: Cause and Effect of No Choice Decisions « Be Innovation

MTA Fare Hike: Cause and Effect of No Choice Decisions « Be Innovation — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:06:03 +0000

[...] New York City’s public transportation systems every month. But if you truly understand the situation the MTA is in, then you know it’s not all their [...]

By: uSkyscraper

uSkyscraper — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:08:56 +0000

You think New York has it bad, try living in poor Toronto, where riders have to fork over 80%+ of the revenue through their fares.

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned a resident discount for areas that are outside the CBD but within the tolled zone. (i.e. Inwood, and maybe Wash Heights and Harlem) This would smooth opposition from local businesses and car-owning residents who are used to not paying a toll to drive a 5 min errand. The MTA already has many resident discounts for zones near some toll crossings, and London has a 90% discount for residents on the border of the congestion zone.

By: Houndentenor

Houndentenor — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:15:18 +0000

Bullshit. They can’t make cuts? Really? Yes the state needs to pony up more money. But this is always going to be a tough sell to the legislators upstate whose constituents never ride a NYC Metro bus or train.

But most offensive is the idea that the system could not be run more efficiently. How can anyone say that with a straight face. The system has been mismanaged all along. We need to demand an audit. Not “transparency” but a full audit of where all this money goes and to whom.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:29:24 +0000

One thing that is missing at the terminus of a lot of the subway lines is low cost municipal parking. I live in Yonkers, 18 blocks from the Bronx border. If it cost $3 or $5 to park in order to take the subway at a terminus– I bet a lot of people would do it. Of course, people always try for street parking, but the convenience of parking and taking the subway (vs. taking the bus to the subway) would work for a lot of people.

By: Brodsky, Perkins call for increased MTA oversight :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:30:38 +0000

[...] the MTA. As Chris O’Leary noted here yesterday, the myths about the MTA’s finances are largely media-driven, and Brodsky and Perkins are doing nothing to end the misconceptions that have allowed the State [...]

By: Eric Paul LaRue

Eric Paul LaRue — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:25:41 +0000

Okay, I’ve got my own opinions on the validity of unions, and in particular, the TWU. But I’m not going to go there, because if our objective is to ensure that we continue to receive good service for a fair price, the other points Chris has brought up are much more relevant. For example, opposing a bridge toll because you’re concerned about the “poor” really is absurd – as has been stated, the poor don’t drive into and park in Manhattan – the rich do. Therefore, raising subway fares would hinder access for the poor much more than a toll on the East River Bridge would. Plus it might encourage more drivers to take the subway, reducing pollution on our streets, and improving air quality in our city, which isn’t that one of Bloomberg’s goals? As for lawmakers in Albany being corrupt, I don’t know enough about them to say one way or another, but I have to wonder if arguments against funding the MTA aren’t something like Washington lawmakers saying we can’t spend money on Universal Health Care because we have to fund a war.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:14:59 +0000

I was simply making an example of the TWU. Yes, there are other unions involved, but the TWU is the largest. And if you’re saying that they’re the only ones who bend over backwards for management, then this situation is even worse than we ever could have imagined.

By: Mr. Eric

Mr. Eric — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:54:02 +0000

That’s correct you ONLY mentioned the TWU when the MTA has many unions most of which are much stronger like the brotherhood of locomotive engineers who NEVER bend over the way the TWU does for managment.

My main point was that by blaming the TWU is ridiculous UNLESS every other union is mentioned and there are many. The TWU is a weak union that has made concessions that NO other major unions in NYC have made all without getting anything in return.

The MTA consists of more than the TA. The TA moves the majority of the people but doesn’t get the majority of the funding.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:58:52 +0000

And, by the way, I never mentioned Metro-North or LIRR in anything I said above. I was directing almost all of my points specifically to NYCT. I had no “theory,” so I don’t know how what you said “disproved” my post above. Enlighten me.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:56:39 +0000

Wait, so you don’t see the things I mentioned above? That’s funny, because in my own experience and when talking with other riders, it’s incredibly hard to miss.

You seem to think I’m directing my anger at the workers. I’m not. Blue-collar workers deserve every place in the MTA. But when they don’t do what they’re paid to do, they should be punished – not defended. When nearly every day, we see workers lounging around on the clock, how can we not feel like the unions are bilking us as the MTA’s paying customers?