Comments on: Today’s Headlines

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:40:39 +0000

The lost revenue could be made up for by eliminating some of the service enhancements, with disappointed riders in "middle class" areas told that their representatives made sure there would be not additional funds for transit riders.

Yes, the Times says that the $2 toll would bring in only $450 million after collection costs, less than either the $600 million that Ravitch says is needed or the $800 million necessary to increase bus service as proposed.

By: Mark Walker

Mark Walker — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:58:28 +0000

Andrea Peyser of the Post is definitely a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

By: J. Mork

J. Mork — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:42:55 +0000

Just because something is counter-intuitive doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

Larry, I will contribute cash to erect billboards along commuter train lines to help communicate to “disappointed riders in “middle class” areas [] that their representatives made sure there would be not additional funds for transit riders.”

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:03:06 +0000

(How long do we have to wait before those tolls can be raised from $2 to an amount that will actually discourage toll shopping?)

That would be immediate. Eliminating toll shopping would require parity, but this would reduce the incentive. Perhaps parity could be provided for commercial traffic.

From what I read, the tolls would go to first to bridge maintenance, which is good. Hopefully all that debt service and ongoing maintenance would be covered. They might even paint the Brooklyn Bridge before it rusts away.

The lost revenue could be made up for by eliminating some of the service enhancements, with disappointed riders in “middle class” areas told that their representatives made sure there would be not additional funds for transit riders.

The problem — the MTA has underestimated its financial problems again. You can imagine Brodsky and Weiner looking like heroes if Doomsday comes anyway. Then again, Weiner has an easier target to hit to prevent the collapse of the system — enough additional federal money to allow the capital plan to be funded entirely with current dollars, rather than having the payroll tax borrowed against.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:42:33 +0000

Good find, ddartley. Seems like we may have an ally in the media in Ellis Henican. He really sounds like he gets that the city belongs to everyone and not just the minority who drive.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:37:33 +0000

How long do we have to wait before those tolls can be raised from $2 to an amount that will actually discourage toll shopping?

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:33:55 +0000

RE: Teen Driver Kills Disabled Man Waiting for Bus in Staten Island

I love how “lack of driving skills” always becomes “lost control of the vehicle” on the way to absolving these incompetents of any wrong-doing.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:24:59 +0000

RE: News Needs Convincing That Broadway for Pedestrians Is a Good Idea

“It’s counterintuitive: Close a thoroughfare and speed traffic.”

It’s not counter-intuitive if you give up the axiom that every vaguely north-south road in Manhattan must absolutely be a “thoroughfare”.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:24:32 +0000

Ellis Henican makes some great points (familiar here, but very rare in NYC dailies) in AM New York this morning. Apparently it’s only availalbe online in PDF–see page 4:
http://www.amny.com/media/acrobat/2009-02/23136028.pdf