By Philip Newman
“What we also hope is that as the takeover plan goes through the legislative process in Albany, there are no attempts in closed-door negotiations involving the MTA to reduce service for our commuters,” Liu said in a telephone interview Tuesday.Liu worried bus takeover will disrupt boro services
Liu, who is chairman of the Council's transportation committee, said that since the scheduled takeover of the seven private bus lines in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn was only six weeks away, it appeared far from certain that it could be completed by that time.
He said any such takeover “must be accomplished without disruptions or delays to the thousands of our Queens citizens whose daily activities depend on this vital transportation.”
Liu said he could not help but be suspicious about the possibility of attempts to reduce service as part of any such changeover “given the closed-door culture of secrecy” of the MTA, which oversees the city's buses and subways as well as the Long Island Rail Road and MetroNorth.
Again and again, at a joint hearing of the City Council Transportation Committee and Finance Committee at City Hall last Thursday, Liu implored MTA and city Department of Transportation officials for information on progress toward a takeover of the private bus lines.
They offered few details, but New York City Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall told the hearing:
“Whether or not the takeover comes on July 1, nobody is turning the lights out. Bus service will continue.”
Couuncilman David Weprin (D-Hollis), chairman of the Council's Finance Committee, asked Weinshall if there had been any difficulties in negotiations on the takeover.
“We are in almost daily meetings with owners of the private bus lines,” Weinshall said. But she cautioned thhat it was too early to determine whether any problems might arise.
Liu said there were many unanswered questions involving the takeover.
“For instance, we have heard this takeover will cost a half million dollars and some have said as much as $1 billion,” Liu said. “People need information.”
Liu said he understood the MTA had agreed to keep all the private bus line workers covered by unions.
“But what about the hundreds of non-union employees?” Liu asked.
“We will probably need a fair number of them,” said Linda Kleinbaum, deputy executive director of administration of the MTA.
Kleinbaum was asked how long after the takeover Queens riders would begin seeing improvements in bus service.
“It would be premature to say,” said Kleinbaum.
Some Council members at the hearing accused the MTA of foot-dragging on the establishment of a long-range plan to prevent terrorist attacks in the transit system.
“It is horrifying to me that the MTA has no master plan against terrorism,” said Councilwoman Helen Sears (D-Ridgewood).
But MTA officials insisted they had accomplished a great deal toward strengthening security in subways and buses although they had yet to spend all the federal money allotted for the purpose.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 136.
