By Philip Newman
Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), chairman of the Transportation Committee, and Mark Weprin (D-Hollis), chairman of the Finance Committee, presided at the City Hall public hearing last Thursday.Much of the financially strapped MTA's plans for expansion and by some estimates, even the basic maintenance of the transit system, are dependent on passage of the Transportation Bond Act, which goes before the electorate in the fall.Liu asked Linda Kleinbaum, deputy executive director of the MTA, what contingency plan her agency had in case it failed.”The MTA is optimistic that the bond act will pass,” Kleinbaum replied.”It's absurd for the MTA to feel confidence about the passage of the bond act this year,” Liu said. “Public confidence in the MTA is at an all-time low. Voters are unlikely to authorize the borrowing of billions to be put into the hands of the MTA.”Liu suggested the MTA come up with a plan in case the bond issue does not go through.Kleinbaum added that in the event voters turned down the bond issue, “we would have to go to Albany to seek other sources of revenue.”Liu than turned to the issue of how much money the MTA must have to keep the subway system in good running order.”Two months ago, the MTA unequivocally testified that their proposed $17.2 billion bare bones core capital budget was absolutely necessary to prevent our subways system from falling into a state of disrepair,” Liu said.”Yet the MTA today is $1.2 billion short of that bare bones budget,” Liu said. “That shortfall will result in deferred maintenance – a formula that will inevitably result in risks to worker and passenger safety in subways.”The MTA has announced deferral in many rehabilitation and repair projects for subway stations and other facilities and Kleinbaum said: “I believe deferrals and other decisions that had to be made do not in any way compromise safety in the system.”Liu again criticized both the MTA and the city Transportation Department for what he said were long delays in the takeover of dilapidated private bus lines that serve 350,000 riders in Queens and for long waits for arrival of new buses. Transit officials said 88 new buses and been delivered and more were on the way.Liu complained that federal money for new buses was “sat on” and not used longer than necessary.City Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall said the transition of the buses from private hands to the MTA was “a very complex transfer.””My constituents report little or no improvement from the private lines operation so far,” Weprin told Weinshall.”All we're hearing from riders is that it has been a good thing, that they're getting good service,” Weinshall said.Otherwise at the hearing:Weinshall said her agency's plans included $29 million for reconstruction of the Woodside Avenue Bridge on the Long Island Rail Road.Weinshall said “traffic calming” measures will be implemented on 80th Avenue in Queens to slow vehicular speeds and improve safety for pedestrians. “We are also moving forward with capital improvements on Queens Boulevard,” Weinshall said.Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton) complained that although the MTA's City Ticket offers heavy discounts for weekend riders of the Long Island Rail Road, residents of the Rockaways are barred from the low fares.”It's galling to the people of the Rockaways that you call it the City Ticket,” Sanders said. “When are you going to recognize these people as New Yorkers? Or maybe you should remove the word 'city' from the name of this service. Otherwise, it's not truth in advertising.”Transit officials have explained they exempt the Rockaways from the City Ticket program because they believe residents of Nassau County, who are not eligible, would take advantage of the lower fare.Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 136.
