MTR 256, Nassau Fiddles With Bus System on Brink

Mobilizing the Region
Issue 256 February 11, 2000

Nassau Fiddles With Bus System on Brink

The MTA and Long Island Bus have scheduled a public hearing for March 28 at the Nassau County Medical Center on the plan to slash bus service. The cuts are in response to Nassau County's removal of $7 million in operating support for L.I. Bus in December, stemming in turn from the county's budget melt-down. L.I. Bus says the County's 2000 budget had started off $5.5 million below the agency's required level of support, for an overall deficit of $12.5 million in county support.

Neither County Executive Thomas Gulotta nor the new Democratic majority in the county legislature has proposed a realistic plan for heading off the cuts.

The proposed service reductions would eliminate 23 weekday bus routes and reduce service on 18 more. Weekend service would be similarly dramatically affected. The cuts would chase a large percentage of riders out of the system, further reducing L.I. Bus' revenue and its ability to provide worthwhile bus service.