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NY State Senate Democrats have finally offered their thoughts on how to help out the MTA—and mass transit commuters who otherwise will face significant service cuts and fare hikes. PolitickerNY sums up the plan's features: "A $1 surcharge on taxi rides in the 12 counties served by the M.T.A., raising $190 million; a sliding payroll tax on all businesses within that region, raising $1.49 billion; a $25 fee on motor vehicle registration, raising $130 million; a 25 percent increase on the fee to obtain a drivers license, raising $10.5 million; an eight percent increase on fares; and an increase in tax on rental cars, raising $35 million." (An 8% subway and bus fare increase would be preferable to a 25-30% fare hike.)
Naturally, there are no tolls over East River or Harlem River bridges, an idea which gave some State Senate Demcorats apoplexy. Instead, most of the burden is placed on the payroll tax, which will be lower for outlying counties and lower for ones closer to/in the city. Of course, there's no guarantee the State Senate can even pass the plan—the Daily Politics reports that the city's Republican Senators aren't thrilled with the options. Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-SI) is annoyed that Staten Island commuters are paying the Verrazano tolls while the other bridges remain free and Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Queens) doesn't like the $1 taxi dropoff surcharge, "Believe it or not, I got a lot of those taxi cab people in my district."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "I am willing to support any plan that provides a stable, long-term funding stream for mass transit and apportions the burden equitably among everyone who has a stake in the M.T.A.’s future," but he hadn't reviewed the Senate Dems' plan at that point.
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For the love of Christ... talk about an unnecessarily complicated plan designed to piss off the maximum number of people. Just toll the bloody bridges! It raises money, it discourages congestion, it cuts pollution, it ain't perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than this silliness. NY State Democrats: they bring a gun to a knife fight and they only manage to shoot themselves in the eye.
The senators who refuse to support bridge tolls are cowards. This plan hurts occasional drivers more than it hurts regular drivers, and that's just plain idiotic.
I hope to God that Kruger, Diaz, and Espada lose their careers over this.
You know what. Bring on Doomsday. That ought to finally incentivize every New Yorker (especially the ones convinced that Doomsday won't affect them) to vote these fools out of office and possibly transfer subway operation out of the MTA to the DOT.
we just got a stimulous in our paychecks from the fed gov't and now the mta is gonna rape us, again.
what is so wrong with tolling the stinkin bridges boro to boro?
since so many others have raised my main objections, i'm going to add this superficial one into the mix:
can we please not call it a "dropoff surcharge" - it makes it sound like i'm being charged for the pleasure of leaving the taxi once the rest of the transaction is completed.
Jesus Fucking Christ. If there are tolls on the Verazzano Narrows bridge, why the hell can't their be tolls on the East River Bridges??? TOLL THE FUCKING BRIDGES AND BRING ON CONGESTION PRICING.
Fuck people who drive cars, I mean, seriously. Autos are bad for the environment. They pollute, they add to noise levels and they clog streets unnecessarily. You want to drive a fucking car in New York City PAY FOR IT. If not, get the fuck out and move your pathetic ass to the suburbs.
i agree, let the doomsday scenario play out. last thing ny needs is even more tax money pissed down the mta hole. let them take pay cuts and pension give backs before they take more from us.
here's a novel idea.. let the fare cover what it costs to run the system! maybe that way people will demand more from the idiots running the system.
Yes SimonLok, hence TOLL THE BRIDGES, lest your forget, the MTA is all about the Bridges and Tunnels too, in addition to the subways and commuter trains. But for some reason auto drivers think they don't need to share in the burden of cost increases and that the straphangers should pay for it all. Auto drivers think they are not responsible and it's not their problem. They're wrong.
The bridges have been paid off years ago and continuing repair work is paid for by DOT from fuel taxes, so it's the MTA and that is the black hole here and subway riders (including myslef) are going to need to cough up the dough. Sorry, but I agree with the other post about any additional $$$ going to complete waste. Weren't the last 2 hikes supposed to fix the budget? Why are the unions continuing to get pay raises? The only thing that can fix the MTA is a bankruptcy where all the legacy pension costs are removed.Then the system will actually turn a serious profit.
The bridges have been paid off years ago and continuing repair work is paid for by DOT from fuel taxes, so it's the MTA and that is the black hole here and subway riders (including myslef) are going to need to cough up the dough. Sorry, but I agree with the other post about any additional $$$ going to complete waste. Weren't the last 2 hikes supposed to fix the budget? Why are the unions continuing to get pay raises? The only thing that can fix the MTA is a bankruptcy where all the legacy pension costs are removed.Then the system will actually turn a serious profit.
turn a profit? you are delirious man.
subways aren't about profit, they're about making the city more efficient, getting people moving around so they can be more profitable at their jobs, in their businesses, and so they can engage in more commerce, more cultural activity. I don't get you people who think that subways are a joy to ride, that we ride them because we prefer subways to passenger cars, oh they're so comfortable, so decadent. It's not all about gratifying your ego and expressing yourself, it's about getting around.
I've got to pick up the hair off the floor now. I'm so frustrated by these myopic opinions.
Motorists benefit from the MTA Bridges and Tunnels, yet they don't want to pay for them.
The MTA does not own the East River bridges.
Alright, I stand corrected, but they should be tolled anyway, as well as congestion pricing being instituted.
When will someone put a stake through the black heart of Sheldon Silver? When?
ugh, come on! they should just toll the bridges and leave everyone alone.
Second Ave Sagas has some good commentary on the new bill.
http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/04/21/assessing-the-new-mta-funding-plan/
All of the proposed fees are ridiculous and counter-productive, seemingly.
It almost makes more sense to pay 25% more for junk subway service.
Sheldon Silver will rule the world one day.... this whole thing is stupid...they are fighting and arguing and in the end they will get the fare hikes and the get out fee from the cabs and the east river crossing will be tolled and the MTA will never again have a surplus...I remember 3 x-mas ago when they were giving out free rides because they had a surplus...ha ha ha they give you an inch and take away a foot