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Along with millions of New Yorkers, State Comptroller Alan Hevesi thinks the MTA shouldn't have to raise subway and bus fares next year. What Comptroller Hevesi doesn't realize is that the MTA just does whatever it wants, but he released a statement saying that the MTA made bank on real estate taxes and the agency has a good short-term outlook. Hevesi also goes on to say that the long-term outlook of the MTA is terrible, which seems to support the MTA's position that fare hikes are needed, but Mr. Comptroller thinks the fare hike can wait till 2008. He does blame the MTA's "reliance on debt to fund its capital program" as a big problem - maybe the problem is also that the governor does little to help the agency - and the fact that the MTA hasn't update its financial outlooks: "The MTA’s financial plan is clearly out of date. The MTA has not revised its tax forecast for 2006 since July 2005, while New York City has increased its own forecast of these collections three times since then." Oh, snap.
The Straphangers suggest that discussions over a fare hike happen when there's a new governor. And the fare hike is supposed to be 5% in 2007, which sounds like a $2.10 fare (a $79.80 monthly unlimited Metrocard?).
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The federal government may have to get involved and investigate their practices. I would like to have a federal commission look at every aspect of their operation. Why do they need new money so often.
yeah, the federal gov't will investigate and rescue public transportation... lol. sure.
No one said anything about being rescued. The MTA is the only game in town. They monopalize transportation. That is the first thing which should change. I would like to see a choice and some competition for the MTA. They can jerk the public around because there is no competition. They can forgo raise because a bus or train operator in not going far after 5 or ten years. They can't run to the competition...there is none. Westchester has buses that run through the Bronx. Westchester charges 25 cents less than the MTA. You can use change, so they don't force you to give them money ahead of time before. That is fourteen ($14) bucks per month savings and $168.00 a year. This is not the answer, but it is a start.
Even if it happens, 5% isn't terrible. The fare hasn't been hiked in 4 years? It's still lower than inflation. Also I read that the 5% hike is only for unlimited Metrocards--pay per ride would stay the same, $2.
No one said anything about being rescued. The MTA is the only game in town. They monopalize transportation. That is the first thing which should change. I would like to see a choice and some competition for the MTA. They can jerk the public around because there is no competition.
[3] Posted by: MH | May 11, 2006 12:10 PM
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Yeah. Maybe we can, for instance, divide the subway into three parts and each would be run by a different operator. We can call them, say, the BMT, the IRT and the IND . . .
Hopefully they can hike the fare up enough so that it would actually be financially responsible to own a car in the City. Certainly those who buy the unlimited Metrocards can be tapped for more as they are the ones for which it becomes a necessity.
sigh. bullshit. i'll still pay, but it's going to suck spending on cabs late night just to avoid the infrequent MTA service and frequent thug disservice.
Does anyone know how much the cost is for the Staten Island Ferry is per ride. Is it still 25 cents or free. As far a the trains go. Take the operators off of all of them. That would be a big savings there. If we can send a space ship to the moon with no operator and send little trains around the airports electonically, then we can do the same for subways. Put the NYC police force to work underground for security. Let's start saving instead of paying more and more for a ride ten minutes away.
The ferry has been free for years MH. They did that to make the system all one fare, which means you could swipe once on a bus/SIRT train in Tottenville (SI), take the SI ferry for free and then get a free transfer to bus or train in Manhattan. Free transfers between trains and buses is great.
It is the best system in the world. It runs 24 hours a day and goes everywhere.
It is public transportation so it does not have to make a profit and should be heavily subsidized.
Can't we please have more trains at night?
Ehh, I wouldnt call it the best system in the world.
It is one of the only 24 hour systems around. But I sure dont enjoy that smell of piss during the summertime.
This is so simple. Do the math. How many people ride the subway per day. How much is each fare ($2 each way, total $4). What is that? About 4 to 5 million a day! Not including the bus fare, the MetroNorth fares and all those ads on the buses and trains. The MTA doesn't need anymore money.
Patrick - I wouldn't be surprised if its much greater than that. I think it could be $40 million a week during an average stretch. either way, i just don't know where all that money could go.
I bet its impossible to figure out how many people ride in week though, cuz as we all know, the MTA COOKS ITS BOOKS!
what about the backlash from that, RIGHT BEFORE THEY RAISED THE FRICKIN FARE? all publicly funded services and departments should be required to automatically have expenses pdfed and posted online daily. otherwise, these agencies will continue to "find" $100 million here and there from "forgotten" projects.
gag
I agree raj - you have to account for tourist that pay daily - sometimes to much because they don't understand the system or they pruchase more then they need in rides. Don't forget the express bus that is $5 dollars a ride, one way, from every burough.
raj, did you read the post? It was based on the state comptroller's report. You know, the office that uncovered the double set of books several years ago and that carefully watches the MTA now. Further if you read Hevesi's report he details where the MTA can cut expenses.
Anomalous
first things first - i'm not an accountant, and i suck at math. BUT,
I'm not sure what you're trying to say. All the information for every graphic in the comptroller's report is taken from the mta, and analyzed by the OSDC. How did they (MTA) arrive at these numbers? What were the sources and the methods used for determining them? Where are the breakdowns of sources of revenues (other than a ten digit number)? Why aren't they availble to the public (are they?)? These kinds of things should be accurate down to the cent or dollar. thats the osdc's job. Billions are at stake here.
I think I'm justified in questioning the numbers the OSDC analyzed based on the mta's history. They shouldn't be invovled in the collection and tallying of revenue or expenses. they broke the law for chrissakes.
Maybe i'm wrong though and the OSDC has its own reports not taken from the mta which it used for the report; i find it amazing that there are no differences between them.
anyone care to shed some light?
Patrick,
It goes to pay for the tens of thousands of present and past employees, plus their medical benefits and early retirement plans, it goes to pay for maintanence of the largest system on the planet, it goes to pay for electricity and fuel to move the system along, it goes to lawyers to pay lawsuits. I don't like a fare increase either, but the MTA does have costs. I agree with the automated train suggestion and having cops below ground. It would be a great idea. There have been many incidents where people were atttacked and the token clerks or other employees have done nothing. Automate and put cops down there.
I agree with larua. But I think the bulk of the money goes to the fact that the TWU has for years demanded unreasonable contracts - and gotten them - has put the MTA in a position that it is basically supporting these people for thier entire lives. As the years go on, the more expensive it becomes to support these people and the more the fare paying public has to pay for a ride. It's the same thing that is happening to union-reliant companies around the world. Look at examples like GM. The only thing that keeps the MTA alive is the fact that it is a public authority and can get help when things get really critcal.
MT - I don't agree. Why is it that it is ok for the MTA executive to get their raise on a six figure salary and retire with a hefty retirement packadge. But when the employees ask for a raise it takes a strike. The MTA has fallen short of installing the expensive sophistication they have had in mind. The commute is not faster or more comfortible. They have installed hundreds of MTA vending machines without decreasing company wide employees. The PA system is still insufficient on and off the trains. There are no cameras in the tunnels. What happened to security? If there is a flood, you can bet Brookln rush hours switches to a crawl. Rats still roam freely on most subway lines. I don't think it is the TWU or the employees that are the problem. It is mis management of funds and poor project planners. Problems with a companies inability to keep itself from needing to be"refinanced" usually starts "upstairs" in management. Look at WalMart. Ever since Sam Walton's passing, the company seems to gone off kilter. Thank God for Unions.
Yeah, the MTS has costs... like Kalikow's Ferrari collection.
Bunch of crooks. Companies that are not performing well need to actually practice that old capitalist buzzword--"accountability"--and consider how much they pay the people who make the descisions that put them in the red.
Um, what's your suggestion for clearing rats from two hundred thirty miles of track? And how are they affecting your life? I guess privatization would fix that, huh? Flooding would go away, too. Oh, wait...
Fortunately, subway crime is way down thanks to increased enforcement and police presence, to the point where it doesn't even make the news. The MTA is crooked, but the solution is more state oversight and aid, not any of this other junk...
If there were no TWU, and the MTA paid all their employees minimum wage, and there were no pensions, and there were no health benefits, does anybody really think the fare would be any less than $2? Please!
The MTA is a juggernaut accountable to NO ONE. They cried broke in 2002, got the union to accept a lousy contract. They found 350 million in 2003. In 2004, they had the double books, and in 2005 a BILLION dollars. 2006 another 533 million.
Anyone see a pattern here? We should start a pool to see who can pick the color of Kalickow's next Ferrari.
What a shame that so many people simply accept what is being handed to them. Where are the protests? Corruption runs rampant and there are posters on this blog actually defending these crooks and finding justifications for them. It's a sad state of affairs:(
Zach - "Um, what's your suggestion for clearing rats from two hundred thirty miles of track? And how are they affecting your life? I guess privatization would fix that, huh? Flooding would go away, too. Oh, wait...
"
Zach do you have a friend named Ben or something. There are many ways to get rid of rats. They affect my life by being present. I wouldn't want them in the trunk of my car or my house. Do you live with them. And privatization "could" mean Apple Computer subway Line or Donald Trump Subway Line or AT & T. Large corporation could run them. Then the MTA would have to keep up in reality. Or how about this the United Arab Emirates...? Oh sorry. We would have the British run the IRT first. Then they could farm it out. Don't be fooled about the flooding. If the city can build a safe wall, under the World Trade Center, and then repair the safe wall after the World Trade Center falls on it to keep the Hudson River out, they can repair tunnel walls. It's all about priorities.