When you think of New York City our subway system is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. If you've been here for a visits in the past 10 years or so you probably noticed that the subway is in a lot better shape, trains are frequent and they run all night. (Not even London has trains that run all night) There is more to NYC's public transportation network than the subway, we also have busses, and a huge commuter rail system. So, one needs to ask why is such a great service that is so important to the city economically is constantly struggling with funding? The answer? No one wants to pay In the end, that's what it all comes down to. So, now we're facing another fare hike, and the usual news cycle that follows fare hikes where every politician in the city pretends that the MTA has a "bloated" budget and that they could somehow magically do everything they do now (AND MORE!) without any extra funding. (It's magic!)
A proposal by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to increase transit fares and tolls in 2009 drew sharp criticism from an array of powerful officials on Tuesday, as the mayor, City Council speaker and Assembly speaker said they would oppose it, and the governor pledged "to do everything I can to prevent it."
...
"Anybody that tells me they’ve got a $10 billion budget and can’t find ways to cut 5 percent, that’s just poor management," Mr. Bloomberg said at a City Hall news conference.
M.T.A. Plan to Raise Fares Angers Officials and Riders
So people start trotting out the usual stupid scapegoats:
- The Transit Worker's Union: Jobs in transit pay a decent living wage, none of these people are rich. But, someone always wants to complain that transit works are overpaid. Yeah, let's degrade some of the more solid working class jobs we have in the city.
- "Imaginary Waste": one mans waste is anothers essential project. I like my trains clean and stations safe and my tracks in good repair and so should you.
- Too many new projects: Okay, they might have a point here, but the system is strained to capacity and needs to expand. So, yeah, one could save money by not building anything new-- but looking at ridership trends, we need to build. We need the 2nd Ave. subway. Let's just pay for it Goddamnt.
OK, so how do you get money for public transit? Right now the funding sources include real estate transfer taxes, bridge tolls, and fares for the most part. The slowdown in the real-estate market and decreased funds from the transfer tax, and bridge tolls are down with fewer people driving, so now the MTA is falling short. The only income source they control are the fares--so, with no outside help, the only option is to raise fares.
The issue here is that the MTA should not have a budget that depends on sources of funding that fluctuate so much. They should have a committed budget from the state. They were all set to get some extra help from congestion pricing. But that was killed in a back room by Sheldon Silver. Now Silver's out in front screaming that the MTA better not increase fares... or decrease service. He must think that you can run a subway on magic and pixie dust.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a statement that he was "strongly opposed" to the proposal and would ask the state comptroller’s office to audit the authority’s books to see if it is necessary.
"New Yorkers are facing higher prices for food, electricity and many other necessities, and transit fares just went up a few months ago," Mr. Silver said. "We simply cannot afford another increase."
M.T.A. Plan to Raise Fares Angers Officials and Riders
More like we cannot afford to keep this shortsighted man in office! Sheldon Silver killed congestion pricing, a plan that would have brought the city a lot of money for public transit. He did it mostly to please his friends who run parking garages, as far as I can tell. Now he has the NERVE, to pretend to rail against this fare increase. He's not going to do a thing about it and we all know it, this is all just hot air, to show that he's "on our side" --but, he's not. When it mattered he didn't step up to the plate to help fund transit. So, now all New Yorkers pay the price. Thanks Silver! (Silver has a primary challenger: Paul Newell... Please vote for him and give him money.)
I'm so sickened by how irresponsible and childish out politicians are acting right now. I think most people are mature enough to understand that running public transit for a city of 8 million people isn't free-- and we can all see that after the neglect of the 70s, 80s and early 90s --we're going to need to pay a little more to get the system in to top condition. But, not a one of these clowns, not Bloomberg, not Silver not even David Paterson has enough SPINE to just come out and say it.
Let me make it simple for you: If we don't fund the MTA with some kind of tax revenue, we will need to increase the fares.
This isn't rocket science.
UPDATE: Here is a good post on this topic. Fuel Costs, Declining Revenues Slam MTA. Will Anyone Face the Facts?