MTA Board Approves Latest Doomsday Plan

Photograph of a crowded Nostalgia Train this past Sunday by bitchcakesny on Flickr

As expected, the full MTA board approved a new budget that includes service cuts on subways, buses, commuter railroads and paratransit— plus the controversial phase-out of student fares. The agency found it would be over $400 million short, after the State underestimated tax revenue, the State Legislature decided to eliminate some funding, and a judge ordered the MTA to pay transit union raises.

CityRoom reports that new MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder said, "In the two months that I’ve been here, it’s apparent to me that we don’t operate in a way that ensures that every taxpayer dollar that we receive is being used as effectively as possible," promising to review the agency's finances. “In short, we need to take the place apart. I wish there was a way to do it fast enough to take the things off the table that we’re talking about today; I don’t think we can."

Among the cuts offered up are closing the W and Z lines and reducing service the G and M; eliminating and cutting bus routes; making students pay for their student Metrocards (currently free); cutting paratransit service; and pay cuts for non-union MTA positions. The Post reports that many lawmakers and transit advocates criticized the MTA—Councilman Charles Barron said, "You respond to people's needs slower than the C train and G train on the weekends."

Newsday (subscription req'd) reports, "Walder said that the MTA's 5,000 administrative positions are 'too many,' that the $500 million spent on overtime must come down, and that the 50 percent increase in the cost of construction materials since 2003 is unacceptable." Walder added, "We must accept that as we do that, there will be layoffs. We must not be afraid to eliminate work that is unnecessary.... The reality is that the majority of our costs come from labor."

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By Jen Chung in News on December 16, 2009 12:54 PM

Comments [rss]

angry_pickle

You think $500 million overtime is bad? How about last year's $900 million pension expense which is projected to be $1 Billion this year?

Tricksta

Time to start jumping the gates!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hXBAoIAKx4&feature=player_embedded

NannyState

The MTA is the best thing that ever happened for the cab industy. Hail, ride a bike, walk, but whatever you do, don't be a sucker.

felixthecat2

MTA PLAN TO SLASH $40 MILLION THIS YEAR, $80 MILLION THE NEXT, FROM ACCESS-A-RIDE WILL LEAVE DISABLED RIDERS STRANDED. ( I copied the heading from my email and it was all on caps)

http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senator-duane-and-assembly-member-kellner-criticize-mta-plan-slash-millions-access-rid

Dead Himmler

If the MTA does not get more money they will have no choice. That is the REALITY. Please Felix WAKE UP.

felixthecat2

DH, I would be willing to pay for a fare increase if services aren't cut but we need to stop the mismanagement at MTA. Too much money wasted.

Dead Himmler

A fair fare would be 4.25. That would put it on par with other world metros and solve the money issue. People need not be so cheap.

Trilby16

If that was the fare, it would be practical to buy a car and drive to work. Yes, you'd be stuck in traffic but at least you could amuse yourself, texting and sexting. You wouldn't be standing and waiting for 20 minutes on a dirty, crowded, dangerous platform, waiting, and then for another 45 minutes on any one of the painfully slow "express" trains.

Hey, could women please stop putting on their full make-up on the morning train please? It makes me gag.

felixthecat2

I admit that we do receive a bargain fare but the service is deteriorating. I'll pay more for better service but we NEED spending reform at MTA. too much mismanagement. I also Blame Bloomberg for the Ratner deal. The MTA isweetened the deal for developer Bruce Ratner's controversial Atlantic Yards project.

Ratner agreed in 2005 to pay $100 million cash for the Vanderbilt Railyards, part of the site where he plans to build a new arena for the New Jersey Nets and 16 office and residential towers.

Under a new agreement unveiled Monday, Ratner will pay just $20 million upfront - with the other $80 million spaced out over 21 years.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/06/23/2009-06-23_mta_lets_atlantic_yards_developer_go_on_the_installment_plan.html#ixzz0ZsxuPxS8

Preservationist

Felix - Amen on your comments about the sweetheart deal the MTA worked out with Ratner. The MTA should have gone with the highest bidder, not the corrupt developer in bed with Markowitz, Bloomie, and the ESDC.

Furthermore, if the MTA needs to slash its budget this severely, it should suspend work on the 2nd Avenue subway line instead of cutting service to already beleaguered trains like the G. There's absolutely no reason why providing more convenient lines for rich Manahattanites at an exorbitant build-out cost should supercede providing some level of quality service in the outer boroughs.

felixthecat2

Words spoken true and now King Bloomberg wants to provide his rich neighbors with subsidized ferry services since walking a fews blocks is inconvenient for them.

Dead Himmler

What it comes down to is that the government needs to give the MTA more money. This would solve the problem. The workers are not to blame.

felixthecat2

YOu mean a MTA worker as you on worker comp leave for a finger yet conducts a side business and comment here as well. I see your point.

supetar

Ah, overtime work. How about they don't spend any money until they know what the tax revenues will be?

bittycakes

I didn't upload my Nostalgia Train pics in time for your article on that ride, but I'm glad you were able to use one of them here. Thanks, Jen! (although this story outrages me!!!)

longacre

The MTA is using the student fares issue to scare the state and city into coughing up more $$$, but even that might not be enough to wake them up, and no one with any clout gives a crap about the plebes who ride the V and W trains (even though cutting them would also hurt F and N riders).

The only threat that might get them some leverage is cutting service on the 6 train.

ed_Extinct

unions need to be retooled

Trilby16

Hey, the MTA voted so it's all good.

WTF? They VOTED? I don't get that. Was there any doubt about the outcome of this "vote?" Walder, you need to step it up. You are the miracle worker from London. Work your magic, ok? Earn that salary, man!

And look, I kinda understand them cutting the free cards for students because it's the city's responsibility to get schoolkids to school, not the MTA. But Mayor Mike, if you don't want to kick in for free metrocards you need to fire up a big ol' fleet of school buses for the kids!

What a bunch of bullshit all around. Sickening. Didn't we just do this?

emilydickinson

"$500 million spent on overtime" Well there's your budget gap right there.

Tien

It's really hard to get rid of overtime in MTA work. I would say that every single construction job with the MTA involves overtime for most of the unions involved. Sure, the MTA bids the jobs out to contractors who cover overtime for their parts of the contracts, but the MTA also pays for OT on labor that they supply. It's just a circle that never ends.