Not that this is too surprising, but the MTA failed New Yorkers yet again by reneging on their promise to make service improvements when they decided to raise the fares only a few months ago. Of course salaries have gone up for MTA executives, but nothing has been given to the commuters that truly matter. Now we get even less.
From The NY Daily News:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last year unveiled plans that included more frequent bus, subway and commuter trains to soften the blow of fare hikes. The program was to be launched in phases starting this summer - if the authority could afford it.
It can't, sources said.
"A final decision won't be made on the enhancements until we report June revenue numbers next week, but revenues would have to turn around significantly as we are already $80 million behind in real estate taxes alone," MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin said.
The program would cost $30 million this year and twice that amount for all of next year.
The MTA receives revenue from taxes on certain real estate transactions, but those funds are well below projections.
State lawmakers are about to go home after failing again to enact legislation directing more taxpayer funds to support mass transit, raising the specter of more fare and toll hikes next year.
To be fair the MTA warned us that it might not happen, and anything less than 110% confidence in a promise means there is zero chance of something good happening. Then there is the state legislature, which should have protected commuters from the MTA instead of letting funding lapse. Both parties are to blame, despite the bad economy we should be able to pay for transit improvements, especially when the MTA is able to raise the fare on us.
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