Anyway, I challenge you to show me the hyperbole in the sentence you pick. Per the words of the MTA last week, the Yankee Stadium stop wasn’t a “major project.” The major projects recently numbered five — South Ferry, Second Ave. Subway, 7 Line Extension, East Side Access, Fulton St. And you know what? None of those five will be on time or at budget. I don’t really see how stating that as a fact is hyperbole.

I completely disagree with this. Based on what I’ve seen on other sites, based on conversations I’ve had, most people don’t understand that the lack of funding is the fault of the legislature. Most people still think the MTA has two sets of books and is hording cash. Most people don’t even understand that Albany is ultimately in charge of the MTA.

If every major project comes in way over budget and years behind schedule, how can anyone expect what the MTA says regarding the next project to be true? This isn’t just true for the big projects. Why are stations only scheduled to be re-painted every 40 years? Why is it so hard to get a reasonably functional PA system in most stations? Why is it so hard to inform the public to service changes that happen with little notice?

Think about the South Ferry platform being too far from the train. It was a stupid error that delayed everything by weeks and added to the overall cost. Imagine that level of error throughout a huge project. That kind of problem is understandable, but not having those problems is what separates good and mediocre management. No one think the MTA intends to deprive us of a good PA system or that the last minute South Ferry re-do was intentional, it just doesn’t inspire confidence.

anyway the MTA could do better but the true bottom line is that the MTA is run by Albany and it is up them to give us a system that works. too bad that the poor and rich alike do not want there driving privileges curtailed to fund a better train system

I also agree that their treatment of employees is shameful. When the TWU went out on strike, I went and walked the picketline with them (at the NYCT bus depot in West Harlem/ Morningside Heights). I am a vehement defender of worker’s rights and believe that working people should democratically run our society, not wealthy bosses.

However, it must be said that the issue at hand in this posting is where does the blame for the current fiscal crisis of the MTA really lie? The answer is that the vast majority lies with both parties in Albany and the banks. The politicians in Albany gave tax breaks to the rich and then borrowed money from the rich, at interest, in order to fund the Capital plan. That debt is what is weighing the agency down.

Any debt owed by the MTA to any bank that has received public bailout money should get reduced interest rates. Capital construction funding on mass transit projects is a direct economic stimulus with huge public benefits. These banks, many based in New York, all benefited from the MTA’s projects and should have been paying their fair share all along.

In the meantime, small business owners and working people are forced to pay higher fares, higher taxes and more fees. The politicians have cut taxes for their rich friends, but laid the real financial burden on the rest of us. All the while their rich friends get richer off the interest paid by the MTA.