MTA Waits For A Bailout From Albany

Photograph by dchadwick on Flickr

Forget that talk of an imminent MTA bailout—the Post conducted a survey of State Senators and found, "Unless five Democratic state senators can be convinced to change their minds, the plan to bail out the MTA by imposing tolls on East and Harlem river bridges is dead in the water."

The MTA claims it will need to undertake severe fare hikes and service cuts if it doesn't get help from Albany, but many lawmakers are taking sides between helping out the agency (and its customers) and helping out constituents who drive. State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) told the Post, "If it's 1 cent, I'm against it." And State Senator Ruth Hassle-Thompson (D-Bronx) was blunt, "You want to put tolls on the Willis Avenue Bridge, the Madison Avenue Bridge? And you have to ask what my position is?"

However, in spite of their opposition, Governor Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith think they can pass a plan by next week. Politicker NY reports that Smith, who first signaled support for a $2 toll and then was skeptical, said of the plan being stuck in the Senate, "It wasn't what my greatest wish would be, but this is why we have democracy and not dictatorship. The Senate is still working on the plan. Most of all, what we should be, at times like this, is respectful of the process. And be happy you live in a country that has one."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 9, 2009 4:28 PM

Comments [rss]

Past Taliban

Unfortunately the CASH bailouts have dried-out ..but I hear the federal government will now give the MTA

$678,787,567,009,002,123,456,345 in discounts off all varieties of Capt Crunch cereals instead.

The Dow rose 70% based on this good news too.

Art Vandelay

The vast majority of New Yorkers DO NOT OWN CARS. Click through to tell the State Senate to save subway service: http://ga3.org/campaign/amigos/

ed_Extinct

Why can't the MTA put tolls on the bridges it owns?

Why is Albany so opposed to charging a fee to motorists going over bridges and into tunnels? There should be a fee to enter Manhattan, based on principle alone.

nicemarmot

Obviously, you don't own a car. Therefore, Albany wants to punish you. Only people with cars are REAL American Citizens! Everybody else is a damn commie!

kane

It's not necessarily Albany who is blocking this; it is the reps from the outer boroughs who don't want to piss off their constituents.

The bridges are not owned by the MTA, they are owned by the city. In order for tolls to be put onto them, laws would have to be passed in order to levy this certain tax.