Borecky: MTA Builds NYC Palace While Long Islanders Suffer

How many times are Long Islanders going to be asked to bear the burden of fixing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority?

On January 29, it was reported that the MTA expects to spend $497 million in federal economic stimulus money to complete the Fulton Street Transit Center in Lower Manhattan.  The money would bring the project's cost to as much as $1.4 billion.

Newsday reported just this week that the "cash-strapped MTA…announced that it aims to save about $50 million by eliminating some 1,100 jobs."  The MTA plans to eliminate more than a dozen Long Island bus routes, including Merrick's N53 bus line, and cut service to several train lines, including the Babylon line.  Is it just me or is there something seriously wrong with this picture?

To me, it is as if the MTA is crying poverty and asking New York State to feed its Long Island commuters. The state cannot afford to just feed everyone, but it knows that the people need to eat.  So the state imposes a payroll tax on the businesses of Long Island to provide what could be considered "food stamps" to the MTA.  

But the MTA did not buy food with its food stamps, leaving Long Islanders hungry. But then, the MTA has been thinking about building a palace in Manhattan for a very long time.  So, the MTA, with the support of all the elected officials and the special interest money that goes along with them, asks the United States for almost $500 million (stimulus money) to build their palace and they get it. 

Does it seem right, ethical or even legal for a business to be able to claim bankruptcy and foreclose on its Long Island business, but take $500 million to build a new and improved business in Manhattan? It's as if it is building a palace on one hand and foreclosing its other hand.

The MTA must stop penalizing Long Islanders for its inability to manage its operations.  Eliminating Merrick's N53 bus line will cause undue hardship for the commuters who rely upon this bus line.  Further, several residents claim that there is insufficient parking in the lots at the Merrick train station.  Elimination of Route N53 will escalate this problem.  It is my belief that low ridership is not a reason for eliminating a bus line.  

The N53 bus is a small shuttle bus that only runs a few hours in the morning and afternoon.  Its cost and ridership numbers should not be compared with routes that use the larger buses and offer more hours of service.  The N53 decreases the need for more parking spaces, reduces emissions and provides a much needed service to the people of North Merrick.

More residents use bus transportation on Long Island than in any other suburb in this country. Growing suburbs need public transportation to remain attractive places to live.  Bus transportation also reduces the number of cars on the road, thereby easing traffic and reducing carbon emissions. 

Profitability should not be a factor in determining the transportation needs of a community. We must preserve our way of life on Long Island.  We cannot afford to finance the MTA's Manhattan projects and sit back and let them cut our much needed services. 

(The MTA is holding a hearing on Monday, March 1 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place.  You can register to speak at the hearing or comment online, by visiting www.mta.org, and clicking the "Public Service Hearings on Service Levels, Student Fares & Crossing Charges.")