The battle over fare increases for New York City's MTA was turned up a few notches with veiled threats coming from the Transit Administration. "Fearful" of budget gaps despite having a billion dollar surplus this year, they are threatening to cut a program that brings first aid to commuters in need.
From The Daily News:
For nearly a decade, medical professionals - first nurses and then emergency medical technicians - have been posted at some of the busiest stations to help ill travelers, remove them from trains as quickly as possible and clear traffic jams on the rails. EMTs now work at seven stations.
But the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which projects huge budget gaps, says it can save nearly $250,000 a year by killing off the "Sick Customer Response Program" in 2009.
Sick customers are responsible for approximately 430 train delays a month, the third-highest monthly average.
NYC Transit spokesman Paul Fleuranges said it's "premature" to discuss the proposal, part of the MTA's 2008-2011 budget plan.
It may be premature for them to discuss it, but bringing it up is a slap in the face to anyone and everyone that rides the MTA. Saving a quarter million a year when we are talking in the billions of dollars is nothing but malicious on the part of Elliot Sander and the MTA. If the MTA thinks this is going to win them converts for a fare increase, they have another thing coming.
|