MTA director Marc Shaw presented the now-familiar outline of the MTA $16.5 billion 5-year proposal. The MTA's plan to purchase 756 new diesel buses and extend the life of older buses excited the most attention from Assembly representatives on the panel. Manhattan's Pete Grannis and Brooklyn's Al Vann and Darryl Towns pressed Shaw on NYC Transit's fuel policy, especially its unwillingness to fully embrace proven compressed natural gas technology. Shaw attempted to set the issue aside by minimizing transit buses' contribution to NYC particulate pollution, and said that new diesel-electric hybrid buses would surpass the cleanliness of compressed natural gas buses. The MTA has never offered any support for either of these positions. Shaw also asserted that "all of our buses will be clean fuel of one sort or another," despite the proposed purchase of the 756 diesel express and articulated buses (Shaw did note that NJ Transit was using CNG-fueled express buses). Vann said he had heard the MTA's "cleanest possible fleet" rhetoric 5 years ago, and said bad planning was pushing the agency to increase its diesel dependence when it should be moving in the other direction.

In a testy colloquy, Grannis told Shaw "Your reluctance [to boost use of clean buses] has major ramifications for health in New York City," and compared the MTA to the NYC Board of Education as "too big and bad" to undertake innovation in the public interest. He concluded: "Here's our message: the plan was vetoed because it didn't have enough CNG. We expect a much, much bigger CNG commitment."

Regarding the Second Avenue Subway, Shaw stated that "We're committed to a full build eventually."

The Regional Plan Association's Steve Weber presented the Empire State Transportation Alliance's critique of the MTA capital program proposal (see MTR #236), noting that it:


• Plans a 2nd Ave. "stubway" for the Upper East Side that will not ease Lexington line overcrowding;

• Proposes subway car and bus purchases too small to provide sufficient additional service to reduce crowding and attract new riders;

• Does not paint a clear picture of how the LIRR East Side Access or 2nd Avenue subway projects will be completed.

Assemblymember Towns asked whether an additional

$200-$300 million in the capital program would be enough for planning a full-length 2nd Ave. subway. Shaw said it was.

The Manhattan Borough President's office also testified on behalf of a full-length 2nd Avenue line. The General Contractors Association called for more transit funding in the context of boosting state transportation spending overall. The NY Public Transit Association testified on behalf of its "Transit 2000" plan for more capital funding and a multi-year operating assistance program for non-MTA transit systems (see MTR #255).