Comments on: The political problem with the MTA http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:09:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Unnecessarily unto the public hearing breach :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-85316 Unnecessarily unto the public hearing breach :: Second Ave. Sagas Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:46:13 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-85316 [...] often jump to the front of the line to get in their shots and go home. That’s what happened in March when the authority heard from the public on the planned slate of service [...] [...] often jump to the front of the line to get in their shots and go home. That’s what happened in March when the authority heard from the public on the planned slate of service [...]

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73702 Benjamin Kabak Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:35:02 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73702 I have to semi-correct myself. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/01/11/2008-01-11_poll_nyers_support_congest_plan_if_it_me-1.html" rel="nofollow">60 percent of New Yorkers</a> support congestion pricing if the revenue goes to the MTA while only 25 percent support East River Bridge tolls. We should be able to get one of the two plans passed. You overstate car ownership rates too. The majority — a <a href="http://www.livablestreets.com/streetswiki/new-york-city-vehicle-ownership" rel="nofollow">slim one at that</a> — of New Yorkers are not car owners. And most people who don't own a car in New York City aren't aspiring to do so. It's a major cost and a major hassle to own a vehicle in the city. I have to semi-correct myself. 60 percent of New Yorkers support congestion pricing if the revenue goes to the MTA while only 25 percent support East River Bridge tolls. We should be able to get one of the two plans passed.

You overstate car ownership rates too. The majority — a slim one at that — of New Yorkers are not car owners. And most people who don’t own a car in New York City aren’t aspiring to do so. It’s a major cost and a major hassle to own a vehicle in the city.

]]> By: Rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73701 Rhywun Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:29:18 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73701 <blockquote>The majority of New Yorkers are happy to accept East River bridge tolls or congestion pricing</blockquote> Can you back that up (I ask sincerely)? Are there any polls on it? I wasn't paying a lot of attention to these issues at the time, but my suspicion is that all car owners (which would obviously include every politician) would oppose such a scheme, while many non-car-owners would oppose it on the basis that they aspire to BE car-owners some day.

The majority of New Yorkers are happy to accept East River bridge tolls or congestion pricing

Can you back that up (I ask sincerely)? Are there any polls on it? I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to these issues at the time, but my suspicion is that all car owners (which would obviously include every politician) would oppose such a scheme, while many non-car-owners would oppose it on the basis that they aspire to BE car-owners some day.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73700 Benjamin Kabak Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:25:28 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73700 The socioeconomic demographics of New York City make distance-based fares undesirable. I think we've covered that in the past. I'll have to check. The socioeconomic demographics of New York City make distance-based fares undesirable. I think we’ve covered that in the past. I’ll have to check.

]]> By: Rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73699 Rhywun Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:23:29 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73699 I think distance-based fares are a splendid idea, but impossible to achieve here due to the highly-successful "populist" politics practiced by every politician outside Manhattan. I think distance-based fares are a splendid idea, but impossible to achieve here due to the highly-successful “populist” politics practiced by every politician outside Manhattan.

]]> By: pete http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73597 pete Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:56:12 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73597 The MTA was created to put bridge tolls into public transit. Gas taxes, mortgage taxes, phone bill, natural gas bill taxes, etc already feed the MTA. Each of these subsidy streams was supposed to be the panacea that fixed the MTA finances once and for all. Why would congestion or bridge tolls be any different this time around? Did anyone seriously believe all the new MTA things promised if congestion pricing was enacted? The MTA was created to put bridge tolls into public transit. Gas taxes, mortgage taxes, phone bill, natural gas bill taxes, etc already feed the MTA. Each of these subsidy streams was supposed to be the panacea that fixed the MTA finances once and for all. Why would congestion or bridge tolls be any different this time around? Did anyone seriously believe all the new MTA things promised if congestion pricing was enacted?

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73568 Alon Levy Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:56:36 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73568 Um, the 1930s were deflationary, too. Losing the gold standard simply meant they were less deflationary after 1933 than before. Um, the 1930s were deflationary, too. Losing the gold standard simply meant they were less deflationary after 1933 than before.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73566 Alon Levy Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:52:11 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73566 Worldwide, the Paris Métro and Milan Metro are single-zone, and the Madrid Metro and Berlin U-Bahn are mostly single-zone. But Asian subways tend to have distance-based fare, without the concentric zones of London or any commuter rail. Worldwide, the Paris Métro and Milan Metro are single-zone, and the Madrid Metro and Berlin U-Bahn are mostly single-zone. But Asian subways tend to have distance-based fare, without the concentric zones of London or any commuter rail.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73525 Benjamin Kabak Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:58:31 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73525 Congestion pricing is doomed because our politicians are a bunchless of spineless cowards. The majority of New Yorkers are happy to accept East River bridge tolls or congestion pricing and even more are happy to accept it if the money is dedicated to the MTA. The drivers are an annoyingly loud vocal minority, but they're not why congestion pricing is doomed. Congestion pricing is doomed because our politicians are a bunchless of spineless cowards. The majority of New Yorkers are happy to accept East River bridge tolls or congestion pricing and even more are happy to accept it if the money is dedicated to the MTA. The drivers are an annoyingly loud vocal minority, but they’re not why congestion pricing is doomed.

]]> By: Rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/03/01/the-political-problem-with-the-mta/#comment-73490 Rhywun Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:02:40 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5231#comment-73490 Except that's not politically feasible. The majority of drivers already resent, fairly or not, funding transit with their tolls - which is why congestion pricing is doomed, too. Except that’s not politically feasible. The majority of drivers already resent, fairly or not, funding transit with their tolls – which is why congestion pricing is doomed, too.

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