Transit Cut Jitters
In an awkward moment at 347 Madison Avenue last Tuesday, no one on the MTA Board's NYC Transit Committee would second a motion to vote severe cuts to bus and subway service. A decision on the cuts now will not be made until at least August 3, when the full MTA board meets. The unwillingness of MTA board members to approve the cuts is yet another sign of their overwhelming unpopularity. The proposed reductions and cancellations of service and the entire elimination of some routes would mean longer waits, more crowding, and, in the worst cases, complete dislocation for riders. Over 100 central Brooklyn residents turned out for an emergency meeting to save Franklin Avenue Shuttle service July 11. Shuttle riders have fought vigorously to win rebuilding funds and to maintain 24-hour service. At Wednesday's meeting, Assembly member Albert Vann, who represents many shuttle riders and chairs the Assembly committee that oversees the MTA, threatened other elements in the MTA capital plan if the shuttle was not kept running.
