State Comptroller tells MTA no fare hikes

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is telling the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to slow down with its plans to institute fare hikes beginning in 2008 for projected deficits the agency expects in 2009.
“The MTA should put New York’s commuters first,” DiNapoli recently said. “Before the MTA asks for more money from straphangers, it should develop a coordinated strategy with the state and city to balance its operating budget and to finance the next five-year capital program.”
The MTA has proposed raising fares and tolls by 6.5 percent in 2008 to balance its budget in 2009 and another 5 percent in 2010 as part of its plan that would increase fares every other year, but DiNapoli’s report said the MTA does not need to increase rates in 2008 to balance that year’s budget.
However, the MTA believes that its proposed hikes are necessary.
“The proposed financial plan accepts the MTA’s responsibility to provide improved service to a rapidly growing city and region and acts immediately to put the agency on sound financial footing,” read part of an MTA statement in response to DiNapoli’s report. “Deferring the proposed 2008 fare and toll increase will only lead to more drastic increases and unacceptable service cuts in 2009.”
City Councilmember John Liu, who chairs the council’s transportation committee, said there was no reason for the MTA to jump the gun on the hike and mentioned the possibility of implementing a congestion pricing system and encouraging residents to take mass transit as a deterrent to raising the fares in 2008.
Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for firms with the ability to perform all or most of the services required to design, implement, operate and maintain a congestion-pricing program for the city.
The city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will manage the responses, and pass them along to the New York City Traffic Mitigation Congestion Commission - the 17-member group selected by city and state leaders who will study congestion in the city and possible alternatives to reduce it.
Three Queens representatives, Gerard Romski, Counsel and Project Director of Arverne by the Sea; Edwin Reed, Chief Executive Officer of Allen Development Corporation and Assemblymember Vivian Cook will serve on the commission, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting on September 6.
Reed said that once the commission begins holding meetings, he sees his role in three phases: study and learn; evaluate and analyze; and finally, make a recommendation that has a positive impact for city and state residents.
Romski, who was appointed to the commission by State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, expressed similar sentiments.
“I’m going into it with a very open mind and will listen to all of the facts to make a reasonable recommendation,” Romski said.
Assemblymember Cook did not return repeated messages left for her at her district office.