MTR 53, NY Construction Industry Faults Transit Plan

Mobilizing the Region
Issue 53 September 29, 1995

NY Construction Industry Faults Transit Plan

In letters sent last week to Governor Pataki, Mayor Giuliani, and MTA Chair E. Virgil Conway, the New York Building Congress questioned the viability of the financial and capital plans proposed by Conway, and urged greater commitment and leadership on public transit issues from the State House and City Hall. The Congress, comprised of construction, design and real estate concerns, questions the main premise of Conway's plan -- generating revenues to maintain the MTA's transit rebuilding plan with fare increases and service reductions. The Congress asks "How much can you raise fares without making public transportation unaffordable for the general public and decreasing ridership? How many cuts can you make in operations without severely impacting service?" The letters call for creation of additional dedicated sources of transit funding. The Congress goes on to note that even if Conway's plan could succeed, the $11.9 billion proposed rebuilding program is the "minimum necessary to avoid system disrepair. The current plan at best will only enable New York City to limp along with the mid-20th Century system. We believe it is crucial for New York to recognize the enormous capital needs for public transportation in this region."

The Congress also insisted that "the economic return on public transit investment is undeniable...Therefore...other governmental agencies have a vested interest in public transportation and should fully support the MTA in its efforts to develop dedicated funding sources."

The Congress' letters politely expressed the message that the Governor and the Mayor have little understanding of transit's role as the backbone of NYC and its economy, have no vision of how an expanded transit system could boost the city and region, and are recklessly leading the transit system back into the bad days of 1970s disinvestment.

The message came across in a less refined manner at the last of the MTA's fare increase hearings last night in Staten Island. It took Permanent Citizens Advisory Council to the MTA director Beverly Dolinsky two and a half hours to reach the hearing site in the center of the Island by public transit from midtown Manhattan. Despite abysmal transit accessibility, the hearing was packed and boisterous. Over half of citizen testimony was in opposition to the proposed subway and bus fare increase to $1.50, the balance hammering MTA bridge and tunnel toll increases and specific elements of the E-Z Pass Staten Island resident discount plan.

At the hearing, the Straphangers Campaign's Not Ready for a Fare Hike Players closed the season's run with a game of 3-card monte -- a game where the riders always lose and the governor and mayor believe a sucker is born on every subway line and bus route. Governor Pataki dealt, with the MTA Board acting as the shill ("Just keep your eyes on the MTA Board -- They are to blame if you lose this game"). All cards came up $1.50 fare.