The Straphangers Campaign says recently announced MTA changes to increase financial and budgetary transparency (MTR # 416) are a good "first-step" toward reform that will increase MTA accountability and budget transparency.

The transit advocates favor passage of pending legislation in Albany (Assembly bill 7998), sponsored by Assembly member Richard Brodsky, which provides for:

- Creation of a MTA Independent Budget Office.

- Appointment of the MTA Inspector General by the state’s attorney general, rather than the governor.

- A mandate that the MTA institute a computerized system to track contracts.

- Creation of a central procurement office.

- More public hearings in case of service changes or fare increases.

- Establishing a committee – consisting of an MTA labor representative, appointees of the governor and the NYC city council, and rider representatives appointed by the commuters councils within the PCAC – to oversee MTA operating plans.

The Straphangers Campaign has also called on Governor Pataki to appoint an independent blue ribbon commission to investigate MTA finances and recent corruption charges. It also wants the MTA to develop legislation that will give any internal reforms, such as those the MTA announced last week, permanent legal status.

Last Thursday, Newsday reported that the MTA may propose a day of free rides (rather than rolling back fares) if the Appellate Court decides that fares must be rolled back while the MTA’s appeal is pending. The Appellate Court gave the MTA and Straphangers until June 2^nd to file arguments as to whether a near-term fare reduction is justified. The hearing for the MTA appeal is set for June 10. 

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