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Gene Russianoff on What’s Next for MTA Rescue
The headlines this morning were sobering for everyone who depends on New York City's transit system. Half-baked alternatives to the Ravitch plan are popping up left and right as bridge toll opponents dig in their heels, despite the whopping service cuts and fare hikes that loom for their constituents. With Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith bringing talks to a standstill, Streetsblog asked Gene Russianoff, senior lawyer for the Straphangers Campaign and veteran of many a fight over MTA financing, about what comes next.
March 11, 2009
Support the MTA Rescue: Be Your Own Lobbyist
As debate on the MTA rescue plan is reduced to stall tactics and race-baiting, the Campaign for New York's Future is organizing a Lobby Day citizen bus trip to Albany, set for next Wednesday, March 18.
March 11, 2009
Shelly’s Toll Plan: Promise Beyond the Headlines
It’s too early to know if Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s answer to the Ravitch Commission MTA bailout plan, which includes $2 tolls on East and Harlem River bridges, will make it through the state legislature. But, despite raising less money and reducing traffic much less than congestion pricing or peak-hour tolling would, the plan is a big advance and would provide a number of benefits beyond raising funds for transit. Streetsblog will look at the implications of the bridge tolls in more detail, but based on public comments and the Ravitch Commission report, here's a quick summary of what's in the offing if the plan passes.
March 2, 2009
Jim Brennan: It’s Okay to Fund Transit With Fees on Driving
A reader forwards this email from Assembly member Jim Brennan's office, apparently sent in response to the "Keep New York Moving" petition in support of an MTA rescue plan:
February 25, 2009
Tell State Legislators to Avert MTA Doomsday
This afternoon, the State Senate is holding a hearing at Brooklyn Borough Hall to review the Ravitch Commission's MTA rescue plan. Albany has until March 25th to stave off major fare hikes and service cuts, a doomsday scenario that would spell disaster for transit riders and choke New York City streets with more auto traffic.
February 18, 2009
Albany’s Transit Sins Come Back to Bite America
Just how bad are the service cuts and layoffs that transit agencies across the country will soon be forced to enact? Severe enough to weaken the national economy, the New York Times reports -- all while Congress pieces together a stimulus plan that does nothing to address the problem:
February 4, 2009
Bridge Tolls or Fare Hikes? The Voice of the People Says…
Last month the Brooklyn Paper asked around for some person-on-the-street perspectives about how to fund our transit system, and look what they found. Talk to Brooklynites who aren't ensconced in their cars, and you get some pretty consistent answers: No one thought drivers should get a free pass.
January 9, 2009
Toll-Free Bridges Already “Tough” on South Bronx and Upper Manhattan
All the gnashing of teeth over East River bridge tolls has for the most part drowned out discussion of the Ravitch Commission's proposal to charge motorists for Harlem River crossings as well. Though the tolls would be substantially lower -- matching the (currently) $2 transit base fare -- it's still too much for two officials from the Bronx and Upper Manhattan.
December 12, 2008