| Issue 302 | January 29, 2001 |
| Issue 302 | January 29, 2001 |
MTA executive director Marc Shaw's testimony said that the transit umbrella agency is "financially, philosophically and organizationally" committed to moving system expansion projects forward. However, in remarks to reporters, Shaw acknowledged that the MTA faced big funding problems that could lead to the demise or serious delay of projects like the Long Island Railroad-Grand Central Terminal connection and the Second Avenue subway. "If there has to be a reduction, then obviously it would come out of the expansion projects," Shaw told Newsday. Shaw said the MTA was looking toward contributions from the Port Authority and "local governments" to help make up the shortfall caused by voter defeat of last year's transportation bond act.
Legislators on the panel also urged NY State DOT to come out with a new list of capital projects as soon as possible, to indicate agency priorities under the post-bond act capital spending situation. Transportation Commissioner Joseph Boardman said none of the projects in the capital plan the agency released last summer would be deleted, but that the overall program would take longer to implement. He said Governor Pataki's priorities in the NYS DOT budget were making Route 17 into I-86, downstate rail freight clearance projects, freight yard improvements in Buffalo and Saratoga-Albany commuter rail. He also noted the Governor's interest in reducing high property taxes for freight railroads, which is represented by a new program in this year's executive budget.
In more general remarks about transportation policy, Commissioner Boardman spoke about the problem of sprawl development - he noted that vehicle miles of travel have increased 65% in a period when population increased only 8%. "We can't build our way out of congestion," he said. He described the new Long Island Local Traffic Calming program, which should begin to make project awards later this winter (see next page).
Members of the panel said they felt that the Legislature would need to add capital funding for highways and transit into this year's budget. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has said the Governor should have considered using the state's revenue surplus for transportation projects, according to upstate newspapers.
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An element in the Governor's proposed budget would add two MTA express bus routes to Staten Island's South Shore, and deliver state aid to private operators that also serve the area. To get the aid, private companies will need to dedicate equipment solely to Staten Island service, and install MetroCard fareboxes. The Governor's press release said the private companies would be monitored to ensure quality of service. Staten Island private bus operators are routinely criticized for shoddy service and diversion of scheduled buses to Atlantic City runs. A bill Staten Island legislators pushed through Albany last year mandated creation of four new MTA South Shore routes, but it was never signed by the Governor. The release included supportive statements from Mayor Giuliani, Congressman Fossella, Deputy Borough President Molinaro and Republican legislators and City Council members. Some Democrats and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726 have attacked the private operator provision.
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Although the executive budget gives Long Island Bus the operating funds it needs to get through this year without making service cuts (MTR #301), critical issues persist at the Nassau County transit operator. First, many L.I. Bus routes are crowded, and need additional service. Second, transit planners are learning about their budgets part way into their operating years, rendering any real planning impossible. Finally, the extraordinary levels of state aid the agency has received as Nassau's fiscal condition has tanked during the past two years is probably politically unsustainable. Thought needs to be given to how, when and at what levels Nassau County will be brought back into the bus funding picture.
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