[Transit-allegheny] NYC Doomsday Transit Budget

[Glenn A. Walsh]

Yesterday, the Board of Directors of New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) approved a "doomsday" budget that drastically cuts transit services, including the elimination of two subway lines (W and Z lines) and numerous bus routes.

Also eliminated will be free Metrocard transit passes for school students. 700 employees would also be laid-off. Additionally commuter rail service to Connecticut (Metro-North) would be impacted with the use of fewer train cars and the consolidation of late-night trains.

Although there were plenty of complaints from Board members, the vote was unanimous, 12 to 0.

Much of this is due to the New York State fiscal crisis ($6.8 billion deficit), which led New York Governor Paterson to trim $400 million from the MTA transit subsidy. The transit cuts are slated to take effect next Spring.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg is again touting his "congestion pricing" proposal as a way to solve the MTA's problems. Congestion pricing, which has met stiff resistance in Albany, would charge fees for people to drive in parts of Manhattan, with the new revenues supporting public transit.

More info from New York and Connecticut newspapers:

< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/#transitnews >

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
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