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Where They Stand, Or Don’t: The MTA Doomsday Scorecard
Rhetorically speaking, it's often easier to be against something than to stand in support of it. This could be why, with one or two possible exceptions, the political players in the MTA "doomsday" drama have so far gained the most media attention by, say, shouting down bridge tolls (Yay!) or getting a shoe shine (Boo!). Some prominent electeds, despite the grave importance of the issue at hand, have to this point largely stayed out of it -- even those who, when they had congestion pricing to kick around, could scarcely be found without a microphone or camera in spittling distance.
November 25, 2008
Nick of Time
While we appear to be hurtling toward a future of less reliable transit service, at least those of us with cell phones will be able to plan accordingly:
November 25, 2008
Crain’s: East River Bridge Tolls Should Complement Commuter Tax
On Sunday, the editors of Crain's proposed that a reinstatement of the commuter tax, as called for by several local pols -- including Sheldon Silver, who helped kill it in 1999 -- should be considered in concert with, and not instead of, tolls on East River bridges. The editorial is behind the pay wall, so here is an excerpt:
November 25, 2008
Thompson: Car Commuters Should Pay Their Fair Share
City comptroller and mayoral candidate William Thompson is urging the Ravitch Commission today to push for a revival of the commuter tax to help stave off an MTA "doomsday scenario," expected to unfold next spring unless the agency gets help.
November 24, 2008
Kheel Planners: MTA Austerity a Recipe for Gridlock Hell
New Yorkers can expect more misery on the streets as well as underground if the MTA has to follow through on the austerity measures it unveiled yesterday. The transportation analysts behind the Kheel Plan -- the congestion pricing variant that balances higher driver fees with free transit -- calculate that the likely combination of service cuts and higher fares and tolls will put tens of thousands more cars on the road:
November 21, 2008
MTA Budget Proposes Severe Service Cuts, Perpetual Fare Hikes
As expected, the proposed 2009 MTA budget is rife with grim news. In addition to various cutbacks at the administrative level, the budget and 2009-2012 financial plan -- minus an infusion of aid from the city, state or federal government -- will have a direct impact on transit customers in the form of service reductions and fare increases. From today's press announcement:
November 20, 2008
Dear Mr. Brodsky: What Now?
In today's Times, Richard Brodsky weighs in on the pitfalls of shortchanging capital needs in the face of the immediate MTA budget crisis.
November 20, 2008
With Transit System Crumbling, Fox 5 Zeroes in on Sander’s Shiny Shoes
The crack news team at Fox 5 has gotten to the root of the MTA's financial troubles: Chief Lee Sander's commuting habits.
November 19, 2008
John Liu Wants Federal Bailout for MTA, Calls Bridge Tolls a “Distraction”
While Washington is bailing out banks and carmakers (maybe), City Council Member John Liu thinks an allocation to the MTA is in order.
November 14, 2008
Manhattan Buses Dominate Pokey and Schleppie Awards
Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign (l) and TA's Paul Steely White unveil this year's honorees
November 12, 2008