As Nassau County and the MTA continue their standoff over the funding future of Long Island Bus, the authority has made a peace offering. As Newsday reports today, the MTA has offered to run Long Island Bus through 2011 as long as Nassau County works to up its funding contributions. The MTA also wants Nassau County to that it is “solely responsible for funding its bus system, that it increase its subsidy in 2011, and that it meet its obligation to fully fund LI Bus during Mangano’s current term in office.”
The funding subsides have, of course, been at the heart of this dispute. While Nassau County owns the Long Island Bus system, it contributes just $9 million to its operating costs, and the MTA has to dole out over $25 million to cover the difference. Nassau County has, reports Alfonso Castillo, volunteered to raise its subsidy by $5 million beginning in 2012, but the MTA wants the county to fulfill its terms of the deal and fully fund the system. County leaders, no longer calling for Jay Walder’s resignation, said only that they “are continuing our discussions with the MTA as well as exploring a public-private partnership.”
Ultimately, the MTA won’t cut off Long Island Bus service. It has to give 60 days’ notice if it does, and the authority is working to maintain service levels. Will Nassau County take responsibility for a bus system will a daily weekday ridership of over 100,000? They should.