Comments on: Against the use of capital funds to cover the gap http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/ A New York City Subway Blog Sat, 26 May 2012 04:42:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: APTA speaks out against the use of stimulus funds for operating deficits :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-75073 APTA speaks out against the use of stimulus funds for operating deficits :: Second Ave. Sagas Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:08:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-75073 [...] to cover operating deficits while others — such as the Regional Plan Association and I — have come out against the use of capital funds as an operating band aid. In my view, it simply sets a bad precedent and allows state legislatures to further shirk [...] [...] to cover operating deficits while others — such as the Regional Plan Association and I — have come out against the use of capital funds as an operating band aid. In my view, it simply sets a bad precedent and allows state legislatures to further shirk [...]

]]> By: Fighting for and fighting against the MTA :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-70761 Fighting for and fighting against the MTA :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:22:19 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-70761 [...] and one paragraph calling upon the MTA to shift stimulus funds to cover the operating deficit (a plan with which I disagree). At the same time as the group is fighting against the MTA, it is also trying to fight for the [...] [...] and one paragraph calling upon the MTA to shift stimulus funds to cover the operating deficit (a plan with which I disagree). At the same time as the group is fighting against the MTA, it is also trying to fight for the [...]

]]> By: Using stimulus funds but from another source :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68590 Using stimulus funds but from another source :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:19:42 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68590 [...] week, I explained why I was not in favor of Gene Russianoff’s plan to use stimulus funds to cover the MTA operating gap. It’s not sound policy to move money [...] [...] week, I explained why I was not in favor of Gene Russianoff’s plan to use stimulus funds to cover the MTA operating gap. It’s not sound policy to move money [...]

]]> By: Art Nudell http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68521 Art Nudell Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:11:28 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68521 The federal government (FTA) assumes the cost of financing "new Start" Projects like SAS and the LIRRs East Side Access (ESA) will be 22.8% of the total budget, which adds to the current $2 billion finance costs out of $12 billion in the operating budget. These costs are generated by service to relatively few riders- a few hundred thousand riders in the cae of the SAS and the ESA-but paid by fare increases and service cuts to millions of the rest of us! The SAS could be completed without a 96th street station (and augmented by street level bus rapid transit (BRT)with dedicated lanes at a fraction of the cost), saving $2 billion plus finance costs. (The 86th street station will have the heaviest usage); the ESA could be brought directly into Grand Central's lower level, rather than a $3 billion elaborate new terminal of dubious safety 17 stories below ground which could be turned into a 9/11 disaster by terrorists, a broken water main, or Con Edison! Why does every one assume the MTA knows better?? The federal government (FTA) assumes the cost of financing “new Start” Projects like SAS and the LIRRs East Side Access (ESA) will be 22.8% of the total budget, which adds to the current $2 billion finance costs out of $12 billion in the operating budget. These costs are generated by service to relatively few riders- a few hundred thousand riders in the cae of the SAS and the ESA-but paid by fare increases and service cuts to millions of the rest of us!
The SAS could be completed without a 96th street station (and augmented by street level bus rapid transit (BRT)with dedicated lanes at a fraction of the cost), saving $2 billion plus finance costs. (The 86th street station will have the heaviest usage); the ESA could be brought directly into Grand Central’s lower level, rather than a $3 billion elaborate new terminal of dubious safety 17 stories below ground which could be turned into a 9/11 disaster by terrorists, a broken water main, or Con Edison!
Why does every one assume the MTA knows better??

]]> By: Many answers, but no real soltuions, for MTA funding :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68470 Many answers, but no real soltuions, for MTA funding :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:48:11 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68470 [...] We know that some advocates are pushing a move to cover the operating gap with capital funds — a misguided idea at best — but other officials are searching for ways to provide for a steadier stream of transit [...] [...] We know that some advocates are pushing a move to cover the operating gap with capital funds — a misguided idea at best — but other officials are searching for ways to provide for a steadier stream of transit [...]

]]> By: rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68465 rhywun Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:50:22 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68465 The good news is that certain state politicians are making noise about how relying on capital funds to cover operations would put us back in the mess we had in the 70s. Which is very good news indeed, given the usual political game of relying on one-time gimmicks. The good news is that certain state politicians are making noise about how relying on capital funds to cover operations would put us back in the mess we had in the 70s. Which is very good news indeed, given the usual political game of relying on one-time gimmicks.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68439 Alon Levy Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:12:54 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68439 Why would any private company in its right mind build a subway at $1.7 billion per km? In Tokyo they're balking at $500 million/km. Why would any private company in its right mind build a subway at $1.7 billion per km? In Tokyo they’re balking at $500 million/km.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68438 Alon Levy Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:11:36 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68438 This is true. Sheldon said that as long as the full project would be built, he didn't mind if the Upper East Side got to be Phase I. In a way, he was rational - at the per-km cost of Paris or Tokyo, the full line would cost $5.5 billion, little more than the current budgeted cost of Phase I. This is true. Sheldon said that as long as the full project would be built, he didn’t mind if the Upper East Side got to be Phase I.

In a way, he was rational – at the per-km cost of Paris or Tokyo, the full line would cost $5.5 billion, little more than the current budgeted cost of Phase I.

]]> By: Scott E http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68426 Scott E Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:26:46 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68426 Dear Senator: If you don't approve bridge tolls, your families will each need to pay about $700 per year, per child, to educate the youth. (might that work? Hate to use the kids as a negotiating pawn, but fair is fair) Dear Senator: If you don’t approve bridge tolls, your families will each need to pay about $700 per year, per child, to educate the youth. (might that work? Hate to use the kids as a negotiating pawn, but fair is fair)

]]> By: Aaron http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/12/17/against-the-use-of-capital-funds-to-cover-the-gap/#comment-68419 Aaron Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:40:33 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4571#comment-68419 Because it's interlined with the Q, and because the Q has a bunch of same platform transfers at places, you would need to install fare gates at all 480+ stations capable of collecting an exit fare a la Washington. The investment is not worth the price, particularly when nobody at the MTA wants to go with an exit fare and cities like Boston are phasing theirs out due to the nuisance factor in collecting them. Because it’s interlined with the Q, and because the Q has a bunch of same platform transfers at places, you would need to install fare gates at all 480+ stations capable of collecting an exit fare a la Washington. The investment is not worth the price, particularly when nobody at the MTA wants to go with an exit fare and cities like Boston are phasing theirs out due to the nuisance factor in collecting them.

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