In light of reports this week that both subway and bus fare-jumping cost the MTA a combined $35 million in 2009, Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio has called upon the authority to keep station agents and save money elsewhere. “It is penny wise and pound foolish,” he said yesterday, “to layoff station agents and let security cameras fail when our transit system is losing almost $30 million to turnstile jumpers. We need to do more to protect straphangers and their own funds. A good way for the MTA to save money would be to start investing in subway security.”
While DeBlasio noted the huge increase in lost revenue to fare jumpers from 2008 to 2009, the truth is that the numbers jumped because the MTA found a more accurate way to count those who hop the turnstiles. Crime, says the authority, is at an all-time low, and NYPD enforcement will continue even as station agents are eliminated. “Subway security is overseen by the NYPD’s Transit Bureau, which has done a phenomenal job in achieving record-low crime levels in the subway system,” the agency said in a statement. “These levels continue to drop, and are currently 9% below last year and 14% below 2008.”
Meanwhile, lost in the brouhaha over fare jumpers is the fact that, despite the high numbers, the rate of fare-jumping remains below two percent of overall ridership. That’s an acceptable shrinkage rate for any business. Said the MTA, “Fare evasion is an age-old problem in subway systems around the world that is expensive for the MTA and for our riders, who end up paying more when fellow New Yorkers choose to break the law. It has existed regardless of station staffing levels, which is why we continue to work with the NYPD on cost effective strategies such as targeting high-incidence locations and placing cameras in key areas.”
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Station agents aren’t allowed to do anything about fare-jumpers other than report them and cameras might help security identify who’s doing the jumping, so then you can issue a fine to someone who is likely fine-proof, so to speak. Aside from draining $165K from city coffers, what’s the point of the public advocate again? (I’m aware that the role involves being “responsible for monitoring the public information and service complaint programs of city agencies and acting as Mayor in the Mayor’s absence,” which sounds like what I’m advancing – nothing).
This is a pretty disappointing move from DiBlasio, who is clearly an intelligent guy and is capable of speaking rationally about this issue instead of pooh-poohing the MTA at every turn like other polticians in town. The Public Advocate can be a terrific force for good in this City, but it is tough when the Public Advocate is almost always a guy who has visions of City Hall’s corner office, and thus comes in with a political mind, not a mind for straight talk and reform.
[…] easier for riders to skip out on fares, a practice that costs the agency $27 million a year. NY1, Second Ave. Sagas and Gothamist reported […]
This guy is a clown. He is a shill for the working families party which is founded and funded through the labor unions. Any cut in workforce and he will be out there hawking . he even said any cost savings yes ANY is a big mistake