Public transportation is a key component in methods for traffic congestion alleviation. More people on trains and buses theoretically can lead to fewer cars on the road and less time in traffic. It also could temporarily prevent gas prices from reaching the $4-per-gallon mark.
New York City has one of the highest congestion problems in the world, with the residual effects spilling into Long Island. Rush-hour traffic starts a little after 3 p.m. most weekdays on the parkways. But here is the good news. The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) established a ridership record in 2007, serving 86.1 million passengers. That means the LIRR served more people in any year since its inception in 1949. So, after enjoying its most paying customers in 58 years, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) should be enjoying complete success.
Fat chance.
Most businesses make money when demand for the product sets record highs. But in the government-operated MTA, increased ridership at high prices only means a budget deficit of nearly $200 million. Blame transit officials, who increased the cost of unlimited-ride MetroCards to $81 from the original $76 price for the 30-day pass. Fare hikes on the LIRR make even off-peak rides into Manhattan a burden for students as well as low-and-middle-income commuters.
Increased ridership plus fare hikes should at least translate into better service. When a company charges you more for the same product, normally services and benefits are extended. Instead, the high debt payments forced the MTA to postpone $30 million in service improvements.
Mismanagement is one culprit. A Daily News account reported that MTA revenues from four taxes-on-real estate-transactions dropped in March below the estimated budget, costing $79 million as opposed to $47 million in declined revenue.
No story on poorly-handled expenses would be complete without the obligatory chiding of elected officials. Both the state Senate and Assembly voted to slash over $50 million from the MTA’s budget despite many of the same politicians promising to allocate more money for the agency’s operating budget. Grandstanding on fare hike issues is fine as long as the state government can deliver.
Budget reporting can be confusing. Figures, costs and projected deficits can be tabulated by different measures. But a slew of numbers can also be an effective tool to obfuscate the true costs passed on the public. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) embodied the hypocritical New York State political world when he voted for the reduction despite leading an effort to postpone fare increases that were implemented against his wishes.
Voting for the reduction-which was recommended by Gov. David Paterson (D-N.Y.)-were dozens of legislators who during the fare-hike fight late last year signed a pledge to seek more money for the MTA’s operating budget, voting records show. That includes Assemblyman Brodsky , who led a failed charge to at least postpone the fare hikes implemented last month.
Asked about his vote, Brodsky said, “It’s not a vote I’m proud of, but we have to get the budget done.” Brodsky continued to take both sides on the issue, saying he agreed to compromise with Gov. Paterson even after saying “this decision was the wrong thing to do.”
Brodsky isn’t the only one talking out of both sides of his mouth. State legislators also killed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to charge drivers $8 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours. By killing the measure, the state government cost the city approximately $354 million worth offunds that otherwise would have helped pay for new bus routes and other transit programs.
“I think the public has every right to be skeptical,” Bloomberg said before his plan was shot down in Albany. “I can just tell you that I am giving the public my word that these monies will be used for mass transit for the next 646 days I’m in office and that I will do everything I can after that as a private citizen to make sure that…the MTA lives up to its commitment.”
Everyone benefits from less traffic. Ridership levels show people are willing to use mass transportation. It’s up to both the MTA and elected officials to simply reward people who choose not to drive into heavily congested areas. If record ridership can’t prevent budget deficits, then what would?
In most industries, when regular business loses millions of dollars despite all-time high sales records, top executives get fired. Private industry demands results, and the public deserves better treatment from the MTA and elected officials. It’s time for two-faced politicians and incompetent managers to be held accountable.
Brian Bohl is a senior print journalism student. You may e-mail him at [email protected].
