Stop Fare Hike and Get Rid of the Port Authority

The number of people who use New York City subways and buses annually is approximately 2.25 billion. Compare that to people who use the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and Metro-North and these rail lines numbers dwarf in comparison. In 2006, 76.9 million people used Metro-North, while 32.16 million people used the LIRR for a total of approximately 100 million people. Plus there is a tremendous rip-off of New York by the Port Authority.  

The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), which is a division of the MTA, operates seven intrastate toll bridges and two tunnels, whose tolls are overwhelmingly paid by city residents. Yet their revenues are unfairly divided to favor residents of the northern suburbs and Long Island.

Despite this tremendous disparity in ridership and revenues, the New York City transit system only receives 53 percent of all monies, while the LIRR and Metro-North receive 20 percent. Throw in the fact that the riders of both the LIRR and Metro-North no longer have to pay a commuter tax anymore, and it seems clear to me that city residents are not being treated fairly. They are already carrying enough of the burden and should not subsidize a fare increase for residents outside of New York City.

It is simply not fair to ask New York City commuters to pay more when their fares have already provided the MTA with a projected $323 million surplus at the end of this year. City residents clearly contributed a great majority to this surplus. It is also extremely short-sighted to raise fares at a time when we are encouraging more people to take mass transit.

Additionally, it has been reported that the Port Authority is also looking to drive up bridge and tunnel tolls. New York City residents pay a substantial part of these tolls and do not receive aid for mass transit in return. Far too much of their revenue goes to New Jersey, including capital and operating costs for their transportation services. In fact, the Port Authority does not contribute at all to New York City’s transportation needs.

I believe that the Port Authority, as constituted, should be eliminated.
– Assembly Member Ivan Lafayette (D-Queens)

Fare Hikes Would Be Extra Tax for Islanders

Staten Island commuters continue to see their taxes and the money they pay in fees and tolls flow into the surrounding boroughs while their transportation needs are ignored. Adding insult to injury, the MTA is proposing to raise tolls and fees on Staten Island commuters to address their growing budget deficits. Unfortunately, the MTA’s budgetary problems do not stem from transportation improvements made on Staten Island but from the MTA’s inability to manage their debt and overtime pay.  

As a resident of Staten Island, I see these increases as another tax on our community, a community already overtaxed and for what. Staten Islanders see little return on the taxes and fees that they pay. Our roads, bridges and highways continue to remain clogged with traffic with few alternatives available for residents to get from their home to work. 

Whether it has been the MTA’s lack of concern when dealing with traffic congestion due to their construction projects or their continued delay in building Staten Island’s long awaited third bus depot, Staten Islanders are tired of seeing their transportation needs neglected by the MTA.
As a member of the MTA’s Capital Program Review Board, I will continue to advocate for Staten Island commuters and will oppose any toll or fee increase until Staten Island’s transportation needs have been adequately addressed.

– Assembly Member Lou Tobacco (R-Staten Island)