Pondering another MTA political attack

As Andrew Cuomo prepares to take over the Governor’s Mansion in Albany, he’s going to have to deal with the MTA sooner or later. Despite his non-statements on transit during the campaign, Cuomo’s team will have to identify funding sources for the MTA’s operating budget and address a gap in the authority’s capital budget as well. Early indications are that another MTA raid may happen soon and that Cuomo’s proposed spending cap could unnecessarily hinder transit investments.

In addition to these problems of funding, Cuomo also needs to restore public confidence in the MTA. Despite the fact that the authority has cut 3500 jobs and removed $500 million from its budget this year and over $700 million going forward, politicians just aren’t listening. Take, for instance, a letter from Mike Long, the chairman of the state’s small Conservative Party. While Long obviously has an agenda, his letter is another anti-MTA screed that ignores reality. He writes:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is notorious for increasing fees instead of looking for ways to cut expenses and frankly, New York’s citizens are unable to absorb the latest increase set to begin on December 30, 2010.

On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am asking you to do all in your power to prevent the MTA from collecting the tolls and fees set to increase at the end of next month. If the officials of the MTA fail to follow your request, I would encourage you to include as one of your very first priorities, as Governor of the State of New York, the rollback of the increased fees and tolls on our bridges and tunnels. If the MTA Board Members continue to deny your request, I would encourage you to demand an audit to expose how the MTA mismanages its funds, has not reduced its workforce, will not streamline bus and subway routes and schedules, and its dependence on the outrageous tolls paid by the driving public to subsidize losses due to poor management. The present toll on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge of $11.00 is outrageous; to increase it to $13.00 is unconscionable.

On the one hand, Long is playing fast and loose with the facts. The Verrazano toll will be $13 only for the very small percentage of people who pay cash only. The E-ZPass rate will keep the toll under $10, and Staten Island residents who use an E-ZPass will pay $5.76. That’s hardly unconscionable. He also lays claim to the believe that “instead of looking for ways to cut expenses,” the MTA is raising fares and tolls when in reality, they’re raising fares and tolls after they both cut expenses and had money stolen by the state.

On the other hand though, Long’s statements, while factually questionable, highlight a deeper problem: The MTA is suffering from a credibility gap. So even if the authority says it will cut hundreds of millions of dollars and then does so, politicians will not examine the books to verify the claims. They’ll simply dismiss them out of hand.

At this point, Andrew Cuomo has to figure out a way to restore some level of public confidence in the qualified people atop the MTA. Perhaps he should order Thomas DiNapoli, the state comptroller who just won reelection, to complete a forensic audit on the MTA. If — or when — this audit finds that the authority has indeed streamlined operations and trimmed costs, who will the politicians finger then? They certainly won’t blame themselves even when they should.