this republican is laughing. first, maintenance is deferred and now it's coming due. the mayor doesn't want to spend his surplus as he will need it to keep the lights on when the Trump administration cuts funding due to the sanctuary city controversy. back to the usual answer of raising taxes.
Considering the enormous contribution that New York City contributes, both to the National and State economies, the wealthy should be expected to pay. So what if bank presidents and hedge fund managers don't ride the subway; how will their businesses generate such huge profits without the bank tellers, maintenance people, burger flippers, clerks at Bloomies, etc?
It is much more cost-effective when the support staff shows-up for work; so, the people who reap the huge profits--even those riding in limos--should contribute to maintain functional subways. The Nation and State should kick-in, as well!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
It is much more cost-effective when the support staff shows-up for work; so, the people who reap the huge profits--even those riding in limos--should contribute to maintain functional subways. The Nation and State should kick-in, as well!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
3
I use both the subways and the LIRR. If you think the subways have a problem, the LIRR is much worse. Trains are cancelled when it rains, when it snows, when the sun is shining and signals malfunction, etc etc. The system is antiquated and no plans are underway to fix it! People who run this system including the Governor have just failed us for years and years.
5
Raise the fare from $2.75 to $4. Let the riders pay their fair share, and reduce overcrowding.
2
I visited New York City in 2014. I was shocked at the conditions of some of the subway stations. I even mentioned it to some New Yorkers. I wondered why the subway system was in such appalling shape considering the immense wealth of many of the residents. It was incredible to see multi-million dollar apartments for sale and the nearest subway station with paint pealing from the ceiling. I don't even think it would cost that much relative to New York's economy to make it look a lot better. Just clean up the stations and use some paint.
4
Talk is cheap. Action not so much. DeBlasio's idea of the "millionaire tax" is the best idea I have heard. Until someone else comes up with another idea, it is what we have to go on. As for those who say the subway is subsidized too much, have you looked at the subsidies that the road system gets? No way do gas taxes and tolls pay for that infrastructure.There are those in NYC that are making hideous amounts of money. And often they are making that on the backs of the less well off. A little contribution to society would be good for their soul.
1
Here is my proposal to fix not only the problems of New York's subways, but also all other problems in New York City--such as traffic, airports, housing, crime, water, schools, pollution, etc. GOTHAM! New York State's answer to Brazil's Brazilia. Build a new city of the future, with modern solutions for all of these problems planned into the grand design. Build it in the middle of New York State's unpopulated forests. And transport NYC's financial sector to Gotham.
The problem with New York City is QWERTY.
The problem with New York City is QWERTY.
I would like to think that every millionaire in the city would gladly cut a check for $2.5k annually if it meant that the subway would actually get fixed up nicely and provide best-in-class service. I think it's going to take more than $700M in capital investments (less all of the proposed Metrocard subsidies, mind you) to get the NYC Subway back on track, let alone become best-in-class.
2
We are going to have to pay for fixing the subways as they are critical to the success (or failure) of our city. Many posters have observed that much of the real estate in NYC is either non-taxed or under-taxed especially at the high end. We already know that high end condos are bascially tools for money laundering and unoccupied condos go untaxed. If we were tax the developers for those unsold condos then they would actually have to lower the prices for those condos and (overnight) they would sell those condos and condos priced at over $10M should have to pay a surcharge. But at the end of the day we would have to use those revenues wisely and I have little faith that such a thing wil actually happen.
8
I love this idea but don't think it will ever happen though. Brilliant!
3
Where is the old "can-do" spirit once essential in a formerly progressive America? Now, infrastructure projects take too long, cost too much, and the quality is often lacking. We could not win World War II today, for there would be no workable plan, no gumption.
1
The MTA is a worse steward of the public fisc than is NYC. For example, the MTA five year capital budget is somewhere approximating $30 billion, or 7.5 times the NYC surplus.
East Side Access for the LIRR is already over $7 billion over budget, and 13 years behind its original completion date, and the MTA has yet to tunnel on 63 St. from 2nd-Park Avenues, then south on Park Av from 63-42 Sts.
But the key is adding station stops on projects in progress. Why is there no stop planned at Queens Plaza on East Side Access? Shouldn't there also be a station or two along 63 St? And maybe another near the Waldorf Astoria? That would deliver some LI commuters direct to destinations and get them OFF the subway entirely. Similarly, adding a station at Park Ave and 34th Street on the existing LIRR tracks (2 out of 4) could also relieve subway crowding.
Running LIRR trains through Penn Station out to NJ's Secaucus Junction would relieve congestion at Penn, as would running NJ Transit trains through Penn to a new station in the Sunnyside Yards, with an intermediate stop at Queens Plaza.
But first, bring the signals into the 21st Century...please.
Paying for this? Well, there is a yuge building boom near Queens Plaza. The biggest undeveloped parcel in Western Queens, maybe in the city, is the air rights over the massive Sunnyside Yards. It can be developed the way Hudson Yards rose over a smaller rail yard, with rail stops, of course.
East Side Access for the LIRR is already over $7 billion over budget, and 13 years behind its original completion date, and the MTA has yet to tunnel on 63 St. from 2nd-Park Avenues, then south on Park Av from 63-42 Sts.
But the key is adding station stops on projects in progress. Why is there no stop planned at Queens Plaza on East Side Access? Shouldn't there also be a station or two along 63 St? And maybe another near the Waldorf Astoria? That would deliver some LI commuters direct to destinations and get them OFF the subway entirely. Similarly, adding a station at Park Ave and 34th Street on the existing LIRR tracks (2 out of 4) could also relieve subway crowding.
Running LIRR trains through Penn Station out to NJ's Secaucus Junction would relieve congestion at Penn, as would running NJ Transit trains through Penn to a new station in the Sunnyside Yards, with an intermediate stop at Queens Plaza.
But first, bring the signals into the 21st Century...please.
Paying for this? Well, there is a yuge building boom near Queens Plaza. The biggest undeveloped parcel in Western Queens, maybe in the city, is the air rights over the massive Sunnyside Yards. It can be developed the way Hudson Yards rose over a smaller rail yard, with rail stops, of course.
2
Down here on the southeast coast of Florida, new track is being laid for the All Aboard Florida service scheduled start within weeks. Yesterday I watched a crew of six put down about 100 concrete railroad ties in a matter of two hours. All those ties were connected to rails about three hours after that. A length of track, one-half-block long was down, secure and ready to be trued in little more than half a day.
That is just one approach to laying track in 2017. No doubt the world has a dozen more.
Right now, the rebuilding of NY's system needs options, far more than any thing else. Nothing is more destructive than factions already digging in. Such is the history of New York. But ntil that history is laid to rest, a comprehensive, innovative plan leading to a comprehensive, innovative, working system (at any price) will never happen.
That is just one approach to laying track in 2017. No doubt the world has a dozen more.
Right now, the rebuilding of NY's system needs options, far more than any thing else. Nothing is more destructive than factions already digging in. Such is the history of New York. But ntil that history is laid to rest, a comprehensive, innovative plan leading to a comprehensive, innovative, working system (at any price) will never happen.
I don't trust deBlasio with money. It's freaking Tammany Hall. The City has been steadily been downgraded since Mr. Bloomberg left office --more bums, more rats, and more bureaucrats. Get rid of deBlasio and let's start talking about fixing the subways.
4
Taxes kill the Northeast - it's one of the reasons my wife and I retired to Florida. Money can be raised in a voluntary form of taxation - a lottery. Like the lottery that has helped raise funding for education, instituting a lottery for transit would let people decide to contribute or not to support it. At least they can't say they are being overtaxed. And a lottery gives the chance (remote of course) of winning. Taxes don't.
2
They have been fixing NYC subways since I was a child and lived in a two fare zone in Queens. Now that i live in the Bronx and Queens is no longer a two fare zone the call to rebuild our crumbling subways is being sounded again. Myself presently not being too shy of collecting retirement check have seen this Lets Fix our Subways game played before. We always let our subways decay to the point of complete breakdown and start the finger pointing and blame game. Our mayor wants us to think he wants to soak the rich to pay for us the peasants ride to work to do the bidding of the Masters of the Universe, the rich. In truth our mayor is just pandering to us because of his upcoming election campaign with his new Robin Hood act. The Governor is telling the mayor the city has to pony up it share of cash to rebuild our decaying subways like New York City is not a part of his State of New York. The governor was raised in Queens like myself so he is familiar with the old two fare zones. All I can to the whole thing is DeJa Vu ! My question is why aren"t they maintained better so it is not always the Maggie Bar the Door mentality?
7
I have a suggestion. Dismantle the entire MTA and contract out the job of operating, re-building and re-imagining the NYC subway system to a new corporation headed by Elon Musk. With full Moses-like authority Musk would have the system running like a self driving Tesla on rails within ten years.
Industrial strength vision and imagination are called for. Musk is the guy.
Industrial strength vision and imagination are called for. Musk is the guy.
5
Nah. He's a great inventor, not a fixer.
Privatisation never works for the public. When a system is in public hands, it costs what it costs. When in private hands, it costs what it costs - PLUS the operator profit.
Natural monopolies should always be run by and for the public.
Natural monopolies should always be run by and for the public.
2
I heard Trump fixed the skating rink in Central Park. That guy can do anything.
3
None of these articles tackle a few key elements such as:
You have to take a civil service exam to work at MTA-NYCT, meaning it keeps people based on seniority instead of nurturing younger workers. Therefore you have an organization where over 50% of MTA workers can retire today. There is a dearth of young talent there because no one thats a millennial with a brain stays in a job for 30 years.
Cuomo has completely caved to the unions and he should be pushing for One Person Train Operation. The L train is already automatic and the 7 train will be converted later this year. The train operator on the L line currently presses an "alerter" every 20 seconds to make sure he is alive. That's about it.
Also, Design-Build which is a faster way of doing capital projects is not allowed at MTA which is insane because the NY Thruway Authority used this technique to build the new Kosciusko Bridge faster and cheaper.
Just raising taxes and throwing more money at an organization that is incredibly poorly managed is not a good way to go. This article doesn't tackle any of the fundamental issues like these.
You have to take a civil service exam to work at MTA-NYCT, meaning it keeps people based on seniority instead of nurturing younger workers. Therefore you have an organization where over 50% of MTA workers can retire today. There is a dearth of young talent there because no one thats a millennial with a brain stays in a job for 30 years.
Cuomo has completely caved to the unions and he should be pushing for One Person Train Operation. The L train is already automatic and the 7 train will be converted later this year. The train operator on the L line currently presses an "alerter" every 20 seconds to make sure he is alive. That's about it.
Also, Design-Build which is a faster way of doing capital projects is not allowed at MTA which is insane because the NY Thruway Authority used this technique to build the new Kosciusko Bridge faster and cheaper.
Just raising taxes and throwing more money at an organization that is incredibly poorly managed is not a good way to go. This article doesn't tackle any of the fundamental issues like these.
8
Let's tax the millionaires to help fund the subways, you know the one's that NEVER use the subways, that's fair, right! Just like taxing the residents of Boise, Idaho to help fix the subways, they don't ride them either.
5
Tired, let's NOT tax the (multi)millionaires. They don't need our worthless public transport, libraries, grocery stores ... they do all that for themselves, I mean they have servants who do it for them.
4
Get rid of Citibikes. A public transportation system needs the public to use it. A rolling advert for the biggest facilitator of the great recession takes away money from the MTA.
Not that the people using Citibikes care. They all live in or reasonably close to the city. The people that need the subway live too far away to make Citibikes work for them.
Not that the people using Citibikes care. They all live in or reasonably close to the city. The people that need the subway live too far away to make Citibikes work for them.
1
We need to fix a lot of things, but no one wants to spend the money until it's a crisis. Which is why we will never do anything about climate change until Wall Street (and most of south Florida) is under water.
6
First of all, Mr. Lhota must stop dissembling and pretending that the subway problem is the city's issue. His boss is our Governor, and the buck starts, or stops, with Mr. Cuomo. Given that he cleverly shifted a BILLION dollars away from the system recently, Mr. Cuomo that is, it seems unlikely that he is really willing to help, especially given his desire to see Mayor di Blasio fail. The millionaires tax is fair. Anything else is regressive. $2700 is isn't even "tip money" for them, and their empires depend on the citizens who take the subway every day. Win-win, except that it will not be enacted until the coming fiscal year, if at all, and the subways need help immediately.
5
It is a NYC problem.
The MTA was setup by New Yrok state to save the subway back in the 1970's when NYC went BANKRUPT.
NYC has never taken back responsibility.
The people who live in NYC & use the subway should pay fares equal to the cost to run the subway.
Common sense.
The MTA was setup by New Yrok state to save the subway back in the 1970's when NYC went BANKRUPT.
NYC has never taken back responsibility.
The people who live in NYC & use the subway should pay fares equal to the cost to run the subway.
Common sense.
2
Get real. Fares do not cover costs on any major transit system on the planet. Transit requires public support. NYC would not be an economic capital without some level of public funding.
4
Crumbling subway infrastructure is a significant problem -but is just a huge piece of an even bigger problem of congestion on the city's streets and lack of efficient transportation.
Increase funds for mass transit through taxes on non-primary resident owned luxury buildings, higher tolls on bridges and tunnels, and increased parking fees in Manhattan.
Better negotiations with the MTA worker unions to control increasing pension and salary costs.
Better management and oversight of the MTA to ensure that additional funds are put to the best use in making signal and other infrastructure improvements.
Take steps to make busses more frequent, efficient & reliable in order to alleviate congestion on the subways and provide alternative transportation options.
Provide dedicated, camera enforced bus only lanes so that busses move faster than cars and taxis.
Expand Select Service Bus service to all bus lines to decrease time required to board busses at stops.
Increase the number of busses on lines so that the wait time is decreased.
Don't allow (strictly enforced) parking/stopping on any avenues & streets where bus lines operate - even on weekends. Provide dedicated loading zones for commercial trucks on side streets for use while making deliveries.
Expand more bus lines in the city to include more that only stop on "Express" stops, similar to subways.
Expand frequent & reliable bus lines between the boroughs & Manhattan to incentivize people to take mass transit.
Increase funds for mass transit through taxes on non-primary resident owned luxury buildings, higher tolls on bridges and tunnels, and increased parking fees in Manhattan.
Better negotiations with the MTA worker unions to control increasing pension and salary costs.
Better management and oversight of the MTA to ensure that additional funds are put to the best use in making signal and other infrastructure improvements.
Take steps to make busses more frequent, efficient & reliable in order to alleviate congestion on the subways and provide alternative transportation options.
Provide dedicated, camera enforced bus only lanes so that busses move faster than cars and taxis.
Expand Select Service Bus service to all bus lines to decrease time required to board busses at stops.
Increase the number of busses on lines so that the wait time is decreased.
Don't allow (strictly enforced) parking/stopping on any avenues & streets where bus lines operate - even on weekends. Provide dedicated loading zones for commercial trucks on side streets for use while making deliveries.
Expand more bus lines in the city to include more that only stop on "Express" stops, similar to subways.
Expand frequent & reliable bus lines between the boroughs & Manhattan to incentivize people to take mass transit.
9
Tax corporations according to the sum of 1) the number of employees who currently commute plus 2) the additional employees who would commute if the trains are made reliable. These corporations would see improved productivity, and so it's fair for them to pay for that.
Taxing taxi rides? How the heck is that fair? Commuters are forced to use taxis because the subways are unreliable, and you want them to pay to improve the subways? That's hardly fair. The taxi rides are already more expensive than the subway. Silly idea.
Taxing taxi rides? How the heck is that fair? Commuters are forced to use taxis because the subways are unreliable, and you want them to pay to improve the subways? That's hardly fair. The taxi rides are already more expensive than the subway. Silly idea.
2
Your idea would drive corporations out of NYC and NYC would become the "New" Detroit !!
4
If it makes anyone feel any better, San Francisco's subway system is crumbling as well.
3
Sorry to hear it.
3
Last time I checked, NYCT was the most cost efficient transit system in North America, measured in dollars per passenger mile. Try it yourself, APTA publishes the data.
Or put it another way. Why don't you improve efficiency of the MTA, I will come and improve the efficiency of the NYT editorial board. Full disclosure: I have absolutely no expertise in journalism.
Or put it another way. Why don't you improve efficiency of the MTA, I will come and improve the efficiency of the NYT editorial board. Full disclosure: I have absolutely no expertise in journalism.
2
Suggestion: Let;s get in our time machine and go back 100 years and do all the routine maintenance and upgrading that we should have been doing all along. You know, just like we ought to be doing right now with the rest of our infrastructure.
Oh right, we're not doing that either.
Oh right, we're not doing that either.
7
Tax all the "commuters" from NJ. LI, and Upstate who earn a very good living here and skip out on supporting NYC.
7
I guess the NYC income tax, the MTA tax on my property, the sales tax on purchases in the city, and the price of the LIRR and MetroCards are not enough?
8
Too bad the commuter tax was found to be unconstitutional. You want to let all of the suburbanites cast a vote for mayor? Yeah, I didn't think so.
It's always "tax the other guy". Here are some questions: why isn't the unlimited metro card for the sole use of one person only (like LIRR and NJ Transit passes)? Why are we not prosecuting turnstile jumping and giving free swipes if the system is underfunded? It's a modern day tragedy of the common.
It's always "tax the other guy". Here are some questions: why isn't the unlimited metro card for the sole use of one person only (like LIRR and NJ Transit passes)? Why are we not prosecuting turnstile jumping and giving free swipes if the system is underfunded? It's a modern day tragedy of the common.
3
From all the American hysteria about taxes you would never guess that Americans pay the lowest taxes of all wealthy democracies with the result of desperate poverty amidst unbelievable wealth and crumbling infrastructure.
Karl Marx was right when he foretold ever increasing inequality under pure capitalism. Capitalism was saved from itself by unions, the welfare state, progressive taxation and extension of voting rights, all now endangered species the re-pre-Permian great extinction.
Karl Marx was right when he foretold ever increasing inequality under pure capitalism. Capitalism was saved from itself by unions, the welfare state, progressive taxation and extension of voting rights, all now endangered species the re-pre-Permian great extinction.
12
Recommended reading (brief) from a piece by economy analyst and reporter Doug Henwood for his publication Left Business Observer:
https://lbo-news.com/2010/01/12/no-money/
As per Henwood in 2010 (but maybe this info is too old now and needs to be updated), "The twenty-three members of the Forbes 400 who live in New York City have a combined net worth of just under $130 billion." So, why not tax them, and why not tax their corporations, too? They benefit so much from all New York has; they should start to pay for it, for all the workers the trains and buses carry to their offices and headquarters in and around NYC. That's the beginning of a fair approach to subway and train fares, and especially to properly and adequately capitalizing our mass transit system for the long haul. Why is it that we don't hear much more about these potential solutions to our transit woes from the NY Times?
https://lbo-news.com/2010/01/12/no-money/
As per Henwood in 2010 (but maybe this info is too old now and needs to be updated), "The twenty-three members of the Forbes 400 who live in New York City have a combined net worth of just under $130 billion." So, why not tax them, and why not tax their corporations, too? They benefit so much from all New York has; they should start to pay for it, for all the workers the trains and buses carry to their offices and headquarters in and around NYC. That's the beginning of a fair approach to subway and train fares, and especially to properly and adequately capitalizing our mass transit system for the long haul. Why is it that we don't hear much more about these potential solutions to our transit woes from the NY Times?
9
"The twenty-three members of the Forbes 400 who live in New York City have a combined net worth of $130 billion" making them the most mobile of city residents. I'm sure they benefit from all New York has just as I'm sure that New York benefits from them being here. I'm also sure that any other city would benefit from them being there as well and not tax them UNFAIRLY.
Yes, to tax someone just because they have more money than most is UNFAIR, and stupid because they will leave and take their billions with them.
Yes, to tax someone just because they have more money than most is UNFAIR, and stupid because they will leave and take their billions with them.
4
August 9, 2017
Driver-less AI computer electronics driven subway advancement will save great costs and upgrade the system with having its conductor. As well the safe and up- to-date progressions is a yearly drama and with good reason. As today's Editorial gives counsel and with further modern planning not only is NY City a winner but the prestige of our nation to showcase that the people's transportation is a signature for all to use, admire, and with smarts in sharing the economics burden and rewards that will just be abundant and with pleasure and efficiency's showcase. Not to say over glided and luxury extras but just societal's wellness and pleasure to get on to the tasking travels maintained in concert with our climate endeavors towards health, welfare, and production in arrays of talents - making all winners.
jja Manhattan, N.Y. - a daily users of the IRT and Bus transportation for well over six decades of success in public MTA usage.
Driver-less AI computer electronics driven subway advancement will save great costs and upgrade the system with having its conductor. As well the safe and up- to-date progressions is a yearly drama and with good reason. As today's Editorial gives counsel and with further modern planning not only is NY City a winner but the prestige of our nation to showcase that the people's transportation is a signature for all to use, admire, and with smarts in sharing the economics burden and rewards that will just be abundant and with pleasure and efficiency's showcase. Not to say over glided and luxury extras but just societal's wellness and pleasure to get on to the tasking travels maintained in concert with our climate endeavors towards health, welfare, and production in arrays of talents - making all winners.
jja Manhattan, N.Y. - a daily users of the IRT and Bus transportation for well over six decades of success in public MTA usage.
2
Real estate values are enhanced by the access residents, customers, and staff have to a reliable subway system. Capital improvements and upgrades should therefore be paid for by a mil levy on real estate, exempting properties more than one mile from the nearest subway station. The wealthy should only have to contribute to the extent that they own or lease properties that benefit from the subway, regardless of whether they reside in the city.
Meanwhile, rush hour congestion should be eased by raising the peak time fare to $5, and the shoulder-peak fare to $4. The reduced-service late-night fare should be reduced to $1. Seniors like myself should pay the same rates as everyone else.
Meanwhile, rush hour congestion should be eased by raising the peak time fare to $5, and the shoulder-peak fare to $4. The reduced-service late-night fare should be reduced to $1. Seniors like myself should pay the same rates as everyone else.
2
"Decorating!" get some interior designers and architects with brooms and clean and repair it, inch by inch. Like an historic building, undergoing conservation. And start NOW, tax and bonds later.
Subway riders need to pay their fair share. Instead of diverting money from Bridge Tolls to subways, the tax on parking garages for non-NYC residents and raising taxes on many two-income families let the people who use the subway pay more. And if a person cannot afford te higher fare, what are you doing living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. It's time to re-locate.
6
Surely you are kidding.
12
Hmmm, very good point. I live just outside San Francisco, and our mass transit system (BART, Metro) is expensive and in bad shape (not nearly as bad as NY). I simply can't afford to pay more than I pay now to commute, so it's time to move.
It's fine to look to Europe and talk about how well they have maintained their mass transit, but it doesn't help with this problem. The past is the past, not prologue.
And NYC simply has too many people, a big part of the problem.
It's fine to look to Europe and talk about how well they have maintained their mass transit, but it doesn't help with this problem. The past is the past, not prologue.
And NYC simply has too many people, a big part of the problem.
1
Right on John. But wait, are the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges tolled? The roads? Who's paying for them?
3
1. Beg for federal money and elect people to DC who will fight for urban transit.
2. Borrow money or issue bonds to raise capital.
3. Put up booth-less tolls in both directions for all East River vehicle crossings. Even if that toll is only $0.10 or $0.25 it will raise billions. Have all of this money flow directly into a capital fund.
4. Close the entire subway system every night from 1am-4am, and extend that closure period for all the lines on a rolling basis (say, closing the F from 12am-5am one night, the 6 on another night, the J on another night, and so on). Since the lines are so long, do these rolling closures in sections. Use these quiet periods to tackle the signal problem and clean and update the stations. Provide shuttle bus service (this is when shuttle buses will actually work, since ridership is lower) to travel along the subway routes not being served.
5. Update all station PA systems. Mandate that station employees and conductors making announcements are chipper and informative. Reward them for being entertaining. You know when you have a good conductor -- it should be like that system-wide.
6. Constant engagement with commuters through polling, apps, town halls, and station feedback as to how the MTA is doing.
7. Initiate a huge PR campaign extolling civic-mindedness good ridership: paying attention, not littering, being courteous, not spitting, no radios, let people off, stand up for the infirm, etc. Straphangers have the power to improve things too!
2. Borrow money or issue bonds to raise capital.
3. Put up booth-less tolls in both directions for all East River vehicle crossings. Even if that toll is only $0.10 or $0.25 it will raise billions. Have all of this money flow directly into a capital fund.
4. Close the entire subway system every night from 1am-4am, and extend that closure period for all the lines on a rolling basis (say, closing the F from 12am-5am one night, the 6 on another night, the J on another night, and so on). Since the lines are so long, do these rolling closures in sections. Use these quiet periods to tackle the signal problem and clean and update the stations. Provide shuttle bus service (this is when shuttle buses will actually work, since ridership is lower) to travel along the subway routes not being served.
5. Update all station PA systems. Mandate that station employees and conductors making announcements are chipper and informative. Reward them for being entertaining. You know when you have a good conductor -- it should be like that system-wide.
6. Constant engagement with commuters through polling, apps, town halls, and station feedback as to how the MTA is doing.
7. Initiate a huge PR campaign extolling civic-mindedness good ridership: paying attention, not littering, being courteous, not spitting, no radios, let people off, stand up for the infirm, etc. Straphangers have the power to improve things too!
7
Charge the wealthy more to ride subway. Collect tax on cab fares and bicycle riders
3
Tolls on East River Bridges should be installed. The money from the tolls should be placed in a lock box ( an idea, of course) to fund capital projects for the bridges and subways. Also, what about charging passengers to commute based on distance?
1
I don't travel much by train since I retired but when I do I have not had the problems everybody else are complaining about.
The trains are cleaner (inside and outside) and quieter than the trains I took in the seventies.
The air conditioning and doors work and I find a seat.
The stations are cleaner and the information kiosk are a great help.
The trains certainly can be better and they could have been worse.
I have noticed the same problems people have underground are the same that we have above.
One being too many people.
This is the opposite of what people thought would happen.
They thought that with the increase usage of computers, people could telecommute to work so there would be fewer people actually going to work.
With the construction taking place in downtown Brooklyn near the High Line Hudson Yards and World trade Center the number of people commuting to work will increase even more in the future.
The City will get new building and the streets will become more crowded.
I have seen drawings that artist have made of the new communities that are being built.
These drawings show people having a lot of personal space to move in
They don't show you that there will be very little personal space as the number of people using that space will be much more.
The problems that exist below and above ground can not be solved if you do nothing that will stop this population growth.
Less construction and fewer tall buildings.
We need more parks and open space.
The trains are cleaner (inside and outside) and quieter than the trains I took in the seventies.
The air conditioning and doors work and I find a seat.
The stations are cleaner and the information kiosk are a great help.
The trains certainly can be better and they could have been worse.
I have noticed the same problems people have underground are the same that we have above.
One being too many people.
This is the opposite of what people thought would happen.
They thought that with the increase usage of computers, people could telecommute to work so there would be fewer people actually going to work.
With the construction taking place in downtown Brooklyn near the High Line Hudson Yards and World trade Center the number of people commuting to work will increase even more in the future.
The City will get new building and the streets will become more crowded.
I have seen drawings that artist have made of the new communities that are being built.
These drawings show people having a lot of personal space to move in
They don't show you that there will be very little personal space as the number of people using that space will be much more.
The problems that exist below and above ground can not be solved if you do nothing that will stop this population growth.
Less construction and fewer tall buildings.
We need more parks and open space.
11
You mean like the high line? Oh, wait....
1
There once was a city with subways
Performing with increasing delays
But ways to fix the mess
Cutting user distress
Seemed to leave its leaders in a daze
Performing with increasing delays
But ways to fix the mess
Cutting user distress
Seemed to leave its leaders in a daze
1
Crumbling infrastructure? Find a conservative.
Conservatives used to pay the bills, pay the help and maintain the property. They made incremental changes so they could easily get back if things went awry.
But Republicans -- especially, Reagan -- redirected the Party away from conservative principles. They campaigned and won on tax cuts and race baiting.
What kind of government have we if bridges are crumbling, roads are dangerously uneven, airports are sub-par, the power grid is ancient and our ports can't handle trade?
We pay taxes and they give the money to millionaires.
Conservatives used to pay the bills, pay the help and maintain the property. They made incremental changes so they could easily get back if things went awry.
But Republicans -- especially, Reagan -- redirected the Party away from conservative principles. They campaigned and won on tax cuts and race baiting.
What kind of government have we if bridges are crumbling, roads are dangerously uneven, airports are sub-par, the power grid is ancient and our ports can't handle trade?
We pay taxes and they give the money to millionaires.
8
Tax cuts and RACE BAITING, really? Democrats are the premier party for race baiting and identity politics, that is why they lost over one thousand seats around the country over the last ten years including the presidency. If you are going to comment on a party you obviously know very little about, don't!
1
Tired, some advice: don't show off. Your intentional blindness is pretty obvious to most everyone but yourself.
1
Short term commuter support for the MTA!!!!
The MTA needs huge capital investment to rebuild and redesign the subway system. It must rethink fundamentally public transport in NYC. That may well take decades.
In the meantime:
I have a simple proposal. Overcrowding is straining the performance of the subway system.
Subway passengers can do one simple thing. They can walk to the next or farther and not the nearest subway stop. They can get off a stop or two early.
That should ease overcrowding just a bit and make New Yorkers just a bit more fit.
The first fifteen minutes of walking or exercise is the most beneficial. Building exercise into the commute is the most efficient way of including exercise into the daily routine.
Not everyone has to get off at Fulton St (Manhattan) in the morning or on the subway at Fulton St. in the evening.
Bohdan A Oryshkevich, MD, MPH
The MTA needs huge capital investment to rebuild and redesign the subway system. It must rethink fundamentally public transport in NYC. That may well take decades.
In the meantime:
I have a simple proposal. Overcrowding is straining the performance of the subway system.
Subway passengers can do one simple thing. They can walk to the next or farther and not the nearest subway stop. They can get off a stop or two early.
That should ease overcrowding just a bit and make New Yorkers just a bit more fit.
The first fifteen minutes of walking or exercise is the most beneficial. Building exercise into the commute is the most efficient way of including exercise into the daily routine.
Not everyone has to get off at Fulton St (Manhattan) in the morning or on the subway at Fulton St. in the evening.
Bohdan A Oryshkevich, MD, MPH
4
An incentive to encourage people to get off the subway early would be to prorate the fare paid in relation the number of stops actually ridden. If you have to pay the 2.75 no matter how far you go, it makes economic sense to get your money's worth and stay on the train.
4
I did not suggest an economic decision but a practical one.
There is the benefit of health that one is earning by walking.
If one can buy a jumbo Cola cheaper, the smaller Cola or the overpriced tap water is still a better deal from the point of view of health if not cost.
There is no health or mental health benefit from standing in an over crowded subway. Getting the tension off by getting off early and walking part of the distance is a practical but admittedly partial solution.
For many people the main purpose of the subway or PATH is to cross the Hudson or the East River.
Sitting in traffic or standing with commuting increases tension and stress with all its consequences. One can wear that off with walking part of the way.
It works. I have been doing it for sixty years.
There is the benefit of health that one is earning by walking.
If one can buy a jumbo Cola cheaper, the smaller Cola or the overpriced tap water is still a better deal from the point of view of health if not cost.
There is no health or mental health benefit from standing in an over crowded subway. Getting the tension off by getting off early and walking part of the distance is a practical but admittedly partial solution.
For many people the main purpose of the subway or PATH is to cross the Hudson or the East River.
Sitting in traffic or standing with commuting increases tension and stress with all its consequences. One can wear that off with walking part of the way.
It works. I have been doing it for sixty years.
2
So we are going to reduce costs for some as part of a bill to raise revenues? And if DeBlasio got all of his "let the rich pay a little bit more" taxes, it might add up. The Hudson is an easy crossing.
2
We need a commuter tax. New Yorkers are not the only users of the system. We need to tax people commuting in from New Jersey, Westchester, Rockland and Long Island who work in the city. No matter how they get here, if they work here they should pay for public transit.
6
We pay MTA taxes on our homes and property whether we commute to the city or not. Every property, all of us. I suppose we can "brown bag" it so as to not spend an additional penny while in the city.
3
umm, we commuters already for pay for public transit. each month I buy a Metro North monthly pass which takes me to Grand Central and then I walk to my office. by the way, almost every year the cost of that pass increases 3-5%. why should I be funding this mismanaged cesspool of a subway?!
4
Ellen do you really think that commuters DON'T pay for their rides on the subway?
1
Other possible tax sources: the billionaires with "pied-a-terre" luxury apartments they use to shelter their cash from their home countries' taxes, bring back the Commuter Tax (suburbanites get plenty of benefit from our subway system, after all), and tax Uber and Lyft.
12
commuter tax because suburbanites use the subway too? pretty sure we pay our fare the few times we do ride the subway. most suburbanites just walk to their midtown offices. so yea, let's tax the people that don't even use the system because youre too inept to manage it properly.
what the NYC subway needs is to charge for distance rode. the fact that you can ride from the depths of queens into manahttan for the same price as going 8 blocks needs to be reviewed and updated.
what the NYC subway needs is to charge for distance rode. the fact that you can ride from the depths of queens into manahttan for the same price as going 8 blocks needs to be reviewed and updated.
4
A large, functional transit system is a major public good to everyone in a metropolitan area, regardless whether they personally use the system or not. Whatever you are doing in and around the city, some subway riders help make it possible. Of course everyone in the metro area should be helping to pay for it; the alternatives are only more expensive.
2
What about Master Builder Deal Maker New York City Denizen Donald John Trump pitching in to fix something somewhere that he does not use nor benefit from ?
6
The MTA is one of the most inefficient and poorly-run organizations ever created.
It is probably the only business that can consistently raise its prices while delivering an ever worsening product.
So let's keep throwing money at it.
It is probably the only business that can consistently raise its prices while delivering an ever worsening product.
So let's keep throwing money at it.
10
Ihe NYT writes
"The governor must do more than just say it’s the city’s responsibility."
Where does the NYT thinks the "Governor" money comes from ?
it comes from Upstate, filled with once wealthy, now crumbling cities, Utica, Syracuse, Buffalo, Binghamton, caught in a down spiral of shrinking population and ever increasing property taxes.
To transfer money from such communities to NYC is like getting blood from a stone.
"The governor must do more than just say it’s the city’s responsibility."
Where does the NYT thinks the "Governor" money comes from ?
it comes from Upstate, filled with once wealthy, now crumbling cities, Utica, Syracuse, Buffalo, Binghamton, caught in a down spiral of shrinking population and ever increasing property taxes.
To transfer money from such communities to NYC is like getting blood from a stone.
3
That's really unfair. I live in upstate NY and I've never heard anyone complaining about money going to improve public transportation, including the city's subways. Anyone who has ever lived in a small city or rural environment where there is NO or woefully inadequate public transportation can readily appreciate the need for reliable transportation.
6
Subway fares should pay most of the costs. Start with $10 per ride, one way. No transfers. Adjust upwards annually with inflation & special needs purchases. After all, isn't NYC the most happenin' city on earth? Even nothing places cost $$$$$$$$$$ to operate and maintain. Enjoy that New York groove thing.
1
The elephant in the room that no-one seems to be talking about is the management and cost structure of the MTA, which I'd hazard a guess is in desperate need of modernization itself. Benefits, unions, middle management etc. all probably need to change in some way to cut costs and improve efficiency so more money can actually go to the needed infrastructure improvements.
And then the money has to be spent wisely, particularly when it comes to contract bid processes (which the MTA does not seem to have a great history at managing well if the endless delays in new train contracts and the astronomical cost of a few miles of tunnel up 2nd Ave. are anything to go by).
And then the money has to be spent wisely, particularly when it comes to contract bid processes (which the MTA does not seem to have a great history at managing well if the endless delays in new train contracts and the astronomical cost of a few miles of tunnel up 2nd Ave. are anything to go by).
6
Don't forget the amazing pensions!
1
I'd say that Toronto TTC model works reasonably well, and here what would be needed to change in NYC's approach:
1. Go towards net zero operational losses - fast. If fares need to be raised, so be it.
2. Try to provide as much fare subsidies through purchases if possible; i.e. an agency buys passes from MTA for the full fare, and then distributes them half-priced
3. All capital improvements are the responsibility of the city
4. I'm not sure if this is workable in US, but make transit passes income tax deductible
5. Finally, separate suburban rail into a separate agency and manage it separately
1. Go towards net zero operational losses - fast. If fares need to be raised, so be it.
2. Try to provide as much fare subsidies through purchases if possible; i.e. an agency buys passes from MTA for the full fare, and then distributes them half-priced
3. All capital improvements are the responsibility of the city
4. I'm not sure if this is workable in US, but make transit passes income tax deductible
5. Finally, separate suburban rail into a separate agency and manage it separately
1
New York's subway system has been in disrepair and a state of neglect for decades. There has never been a program that looked decades into the future to meet the requirements for a well financed and well maintained system. There have never been plans to take New York into the next 50 years or beyond.
I remember riding the subways since I was a child in 1950. The system then was in need of major upgrades but nothing happened. In the 1970s there was a crisis and a patch work solution of new cars but no new routes, no modern traffic management systems and no consideration of customer comfort. There were also no new routes and little track, switch and signal maintenance.
The New York subway system as it exists and stumbles along now is the result of years of neglect.
Where is the plan that takes New York subways deep into the 21st century? There is no leadership from either party and no serious plan in consideration. In a few short years New York will probably face the same crisis that it did in the 1970s.
New York needs leadership that is willing and able to take the message to the people of New York, city government and the state legislature. The subways aren't free. They must be financed with adequate fares and state and federal funding too. If the leadership role is unfilled New Yorkers can look forward to a total system collapse and many more and deeper service interruptions.
New Yorkers imagine if you can't get to work by train for several days. Now imagine weeks
I remember riding the subways since I was a child in 1950. The system then was in need of major upgrades but nothing happened. In the 1970s there was a crisis and a patch work solution of new cars but no new routes, no modern traffic management systems and no consideration of customer comfort. There were also no new routes and little track, switch and signal maintenance.
The New York subway system as it exists and stumbles along now is the result of years of neglect.
Where is the plan that takes New York subways deep into the 21st century? There is no leadership from either party and no serious plan in consideration. In a few short years New York will probably face the same crisis that it did in the 1970s.
New York needs leadership that is willing and able to take the message to the people of New York, city government and the state legislature. The subways aren't free. They must be financed with adequate fares and state and federal funding too. If the leadership role is unfilled New Yorkers can look forward to a total system collapse and many more and deeper service interruptions.
New Yorkers imagine if you can't get to work by train for several days. Now imagine weeks
5
it's not a NYC problem, lack of long term planning. look at everything America does - it's short term driven - from transportation, to national budgets to health care, to the environment - we can't seem to see beyond 6 to 9 months in anything we do.
i saw someone with a tee shirt that wraps up our national attention span perfectly, "planning pays off in the future. laziness pays off now."
i saw someone with a tee shirt that wraps up our national attention span perfectly, "planning pays off in the future. laziness pays off now."
3
I'm not opposed to some increase in taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, but it seems to me the much better way to go instead, or in addition, is congestion pricing since it would combine financial and environmental benefits.
2
Dr. James Powell, the co-inventor of the Maglev 2000 superconducting Maglev (short for magnetic levitation) has developed a system which I believe is perfect for NYC commuter rail. In studies we have done, we show how to adapt the commuter service to a system that will reduce fare costs and move passengers more comfortably without the brake screeching and steel wheel anvil pounding on steel tracks (a maintenance nightmare).
The system is designed to carry passengers in single vehicle or in two vehicle "consists" with frequent departures. Since it is not a long train of cars, the Maglev can accelerate faster and come to a stop without friction braking. There are no overhead pantographs and this system only sips electrons conducted along the system in encapsulated panels that are part of the existing rail bed.
At a minimum the study that Powell, Dr. Bud Griffis at NYU and I did for NY State Energy Research and Development Agency should be pulled out, dusted off and entered as a proposed concept.
Powell's Maglev 2000 group has their eye on a LIRR spur line near the old Grumman airfield at Riverhead on Long Island to demonstrate their system.
New Yorker's love healthy hearing and clean air free of friction brake particle dust, so don't overlook this system. Japan has tested Powell's system and it works beautifully. This system is perfect for America's metro areas. Read about it in Powell et al's book "Maglev America." If NY is interested investors are waiting.
The system is designed to carry passengers in single vehicle or in two vehicle "consists" with frequent departures. Since it is not a long train of cars, the Maglev can accelerate faster and come to a stop without friction braking. There are no overhead pantographs and this system only sips electrons conducted along the system in encapsulated panels that are part of the existing rail bed.
At a minimum the study that Powell, Dr. Bud Griffis at NYU and I did for NY State Energy Research and Development Agency should be pulled out, dusted off and entered as a proposed concept.
Powell's Maglev 2000 group has their eye on a LIRR spur line near the old Grumman airfield at Riverhead on Long Island to demonstrate their system.
New Yorker's love healthy hearing and clean air free of friction brake particle dust, so don't overlook this system. Japan has tested Powell's system and it works beautifully. This system is perfect for America's metro areas. Read about it in Powell et al's book "Maglev America." If NY is interested investors are waiting.
3
The overcrowded and outdated subways are not the only things that need fixing. People need to stop eating and drinking (and spilling) food and drinks on the floor. They need to move away from the doors so people can easily enter and exit the cars. The subway system has deteriorated enormously since I first started using it in the 1970s. I almost enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds once upon a time. Not any more!
If you can, skip the subway and ride the bus. It is so much more pleasant but unfortunately many of us are pressed for time. Believe it or not, it is worse on the weekends.
If you can, skip the subway and ride the bus. It is so much more pleasant but unfortunately many of us are pressed for time. Believe it or not, it is worse on the weekends.
3
There are 4.4 million free street parking places in NYC, perhaps adopt a residents parking permit program if charged at approx the same as London ,which is $300 per annum ,it would produce an annual income of 1.3 billion, surely enough to get started on the subway, and only under a dollar a day to park which seems reasonable.
6
Free? When you register a car, the city and state collect sales tax o. the purchase price. Every two years, the registration must be renewed and a number of downstate counties have city surcharges added. Each gallon of gas we buy has something like fifty cents in taxes added. Free?
4
We need fewer cars in the streets, not more. Particularly on main thoroughfares in the outer boroughs, and which should be dedicated only to MTA buses, delivery trucks, and taxis, no private cars should be allowed to clog streets such as Steinway Street in Astoria, Myrtle and Fresh Pond Aves in Ridgewood, etc. We should be motivating local residents to WALK more, instead of starting up their cars simply to go to the local McDonalds or Dunkin Donuts for their daily fix of junk food. The DoT does nothing to stop double-parking on these main streets, and the rest of us have to suffer because of these lazy, self-centered drivers who not only double-park, but often have the audacity to do so in MTA Bus Stops!
While the US was built-up to be car-friendly thanks to car manufacturers and Robert Moses, and the idea put forth that to own a car is to have a sense of 'autonomy' and 'freedom', it's pure marketing spin. There is simply no reason for most NYC residents to own private cars, what with public transportation options, taxis, your own two legs, bicycles, Uber, Fresh Direct, laundry delivery, ZipCars, etc.
While the US was built-up to be car-friendly thanks to car manufacturers and Robert Moses, and the idea put forth that to own a car is to have a sense of 'autonomy' and 'freedom', it's pure marketing spin. There is simply no reason for most NYC residents to own private cars, what with public transportation options, taxis, your own two legs, bicycles, Uber, Fresh Direct, laundry delivery, ZipCars, etc.
1
Too many 21st century people trying to commute and use 1900's infrastructure.
The entire system needs a do-over but it'll never happen. Get used to it as it is.
The entire system needs a do-over but it'll never happen. Get used to it as it is.
5
My train to Boston had been late all week- and there is no snow to blame.
Cities are the nation's economic engines.
Elect a congress that will invest in America and subsidize public transit. (they have had zero problem subsidizing fossil fuel).
Cities are the nation's economic engines.
Elect a congress that will invest in America and subsidize public transit. (they have had zero problem subsidizing fossil fuel).
11
Let a nongovernment entity develop and run subway.
Just over the past few weeks, I've noticed what appear to be completely new MTA buses in a navy blue color. I've noticed bus stops that now have new digital signs that indicate when the next bus is due to arrive. Etc.
The MTA needs to stop spending money on bells & whistles (the LATEST models of buses, the LATEST models of trains, digital time tables at bus stops and train platforms (which, while 'nice', do not change the fact that we still have to wait for that train or bus), eBooks in train stations, WiFi, etc.
I'd like to know WHO at the MTA is authorizing such spending??! Clearly this is a case of 'boys with their shiny new toys'? Spending money on such bells & whistles is a lot more sexy than fixing their outdated communication systems, signal systems, or ensuring oversight of all bus and train drivers to see that they are Announcing All Stops (i.e., for bus riders at night, who often cannot SEE what stop they have arrived at. Most bus drivers make NO announcements or they are INaudible).
WHO is overseeing the MTA and its management?! The MTA needs more and better oversight, not more money thrown at them.
The MTA needs to stop spending money on bells & whistles (the LATEST models of buses, the LATEST models of trains, digital time tables at bus stops and train platforms (which, while 'nice', do not change the fact that we still have to wait for that train or bus), eBooks in train stations, WiFi, etc.
I'd like to know WHO at the MTA is authorizing such spending??! Clearly this is a case of 'boys with their shiny new toys'? Spending money on such bells & whistles is a lot more sexy than fixing their outdated communication systems, signal systems, or ensuring oversight of all bus and train drivers to see that they are Announcing All Stops (i.e., for bus riders at night, who often cannot SEE what stop they have arrived at. Most bus drivers make NO announcements or they are INaudible).
WHO is overseeing the MTA and its management?! The MTA needs more and better oversight, not more money thrown at them.
6
Generally I agree with you, but the digital signs at bus stops and platforms contains useful information. If the next bus/train isn't arriving for 20 minutes, you may seek out alternate transit arrangements. Of course, this assumes that the clocks are accurate, but that's a separate issue.
1
@Lisa/NYC
New busses are bells and whistles, or are replacing old, worn out end of life buses? Perhaps they could dust off a few more of those in the transit museum, that would save a couple of dollars!
Countdown clocks also encourage use of public transport. When people know how long they have to wait, they wait instead of using alternate transport.
New busses are bells and whistles, or are replacing old, worn out end of life buses? Perhaps they could dust off a few more of those in the transit museum, that would save a couple of dollars!
Countdown clocks also encourage use of public transport. When people know how long they have to wait, they wait instead of using alternate transport.
1
as always with the government, the issue comes down to skyhigh unionized salaries and pensions, along with corrupt administrators...but, you know, that's politically untenable to discuss....so instead. tax the rich!
5
There are apparently very few absolute natural laws that apply to life forms, other than the physical laws, the law that all individuals of life forms must die. For humans, to want something without perceiving to pay for it is a high probablility statistica law, I think. That a fraction of humans betray the public trust is a statistical law, too. What is needed to fix NYC's transportation system is no secret, I think. I would start by requiring the privelidged to use the sytem if I were dictator.
Isn't giving half-priced tickets to the poor only going to pack each car even tighter and wear them out even faster? Why do the poor have to get dragged into everything?
5
When public employees in New York state, and especially the city of New York, have had some of the highest salaries, pensions, and healthcare as firepersons, teachers, police persons, and those in government, paid for by the taxpayers, over many years, then you need to tax these people, and those employed by Wall Street. Isn't it funny how both groups have really been the ones using, and benefitting a great deal from the money, that the average citizen living in the state and city, pays in taxes. When people realize it isn't the Democrats or Republicans that are to blame, as it is those who write laws that give lucrative tax write offs, deductions, and benefits to these groups!
2
Yeah, I sympathize with the subway needs of NYC. After Trump is done atom bombing us in to oblivion, it would Probably need be a good idea to get them in shape for people to live in for the next two hundred years
How about a proposal to fix the crumbling nut case in The White House.
How about a proposal to fix the crumbling nut case in The White House.
1
We have been negligent in keeping our subways up to date. Stations, tunnels, cars, the electrical system -- the works -- have not received the rigorous, routine maintenance they need. Both the state and the city should cough up more money. And the federal government wouldn't be remiss in pitching in too, not that I expect it to, not now.
That said, it would be helpful if subway riders and those who loiter on some stations all day would stop eating everywhere and disposing of their trash by tossing it into the tracks or just letting it drop from their hands onto the platforms. Or scrawling graffiti everywhere and breaking off bits of concrete from the track walls.
The MTA can't fight almost 800 track fires a year, clean up and make repairs after vandalism, and do the maintenance our transit system requires.
That said, it would be helpful if subway riders and those who loiter on some stations all day would stop eating everywhere and disposing of their trash by tossing it into the tracks or just letting it drop from their hands onto the platforms. Or scrawling graffiti everywhere and breaking off bits of concrete from the track walls.
The MTA can't fight almost 800 track fires a year, clean up and make repairs after vandalism, and do the maintenance our transit system requires.
6
The general population rarely supports paying for infrastructure that it doesn't understand. So when the NYT uses a "dumbed up" sketch of a subway car rolling on around 30 spread about coconuts, instead of the usual 4 wheel trucks at each end, it joins in supporting the ignorance.
Artistic license has its place, but not when it overrides even the simplest facts of basic physics and mechanics. Any professional artist should be capable of checking the Internet for those, before putting absurdities onto paper.
Artistic license has its place, but not when it overrides even the simplest facts of basic physics and mechanics. Any professional artist should be capable of checking the Internet for those, before putting absurdities onto paper.
1
Mr de Blasio's proposal is tone deaf. The merits don't matter. The fact that the taxes he proposes are unlikely to affect most people does not matter. It's perceptual - an alternate fact, as it were. It's the perception that Democrats want to tax you until you're dead and then tax you some more. The result has been the lost of literally thousands of state and local seats across the country, enabling the gerrymandering, stupid bathroom laws, and Trumpism. They will never be able to regain support in areas with a conservative bias - the entire South, much of the Midwest, and broad patches of rural America elsewhere - until they manifest an acceptance of shared responsibility. The cost of maintenance for Subways in New York is a perfect example. The bulk of that cost should be financed by those who use them, not shifted to those the politicians deem "rich."
De Blasio's heart may be in the right place, but his thinking is a manifestation of why the Democrats are struggling nationally.
De Blasio's heart may be in the right place, but his thinking is a manifestation of why the Democrats are struggling nationally.
The best advice I ever received when considering a big expense: You can have it good, cheap, or fast; pick two. New York is already in a bind so forget the policy debate. Pick two and write your state representatives. That's the only way to get action out of these competing check books.
1
NYC is beyond corrupt. It's unimaginably corrupt and run by a few "insiders" who don't care about the city, the state or the country. Further, no matter how often one points out these clear and present and provable dangers to those who "rule" over us, INCLUDING the NY Times, no one listens.
Sen. Squadron is quitting the NY Senate this Fri. for reasons he explains in an Opinion piece
" And the status quo has proven extraordinarily durable: It barely shuddered when the leaders of both legislative chambers were convicted of corruption.
I have many truly exceptional colleagues, in the Senate Democratic Conference and across the Legislature. But rank-and-file legislators face structural barriers, including “three men in a room” decisionmaking, loophole-riddled campaign finance rules and a governor-controlled budget process."
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/leaving-n-y-senate-article-1.3394774
Sen. Squadron is quitting the NY Senate this Fri. for reasons he explains in an Opinion piece
" And the status quo has proven extraordinarily durable: It barely shuddered when the leaders of both legislative chambers were convicted of corruption.
I have many truly exceptional colleagues, in the Senate Democratic Conference and across the Legislature. But rank-and-file legislators face structural barriers, including “three men in a room” decisionmaking, loophole-riddled campaign finance rules and a governor-controlled budget process."
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/leaving-n-y-senate-article-1.3394774
4
Why is it that in capitalist societies throughtout the West there is the common fact of crumbling infratructure? Even Germany faces huge problems. London's subway is falling apart. Boston's hangs on, and, for US standards, is considered to be one of the better publuc transportation systems in the country. Yet decades of deferred maintenance and upgrades are showing here as well. The late Tony Judt, in his book "Ill fares the land" points to the railway as one of the mist important means to keep the fabric of a society together; he cites historical examples well worth considering at present and for the future. I think that the willful neglect of public transportation infrastructure (saying there is no money is saying there is no will to spend that money, so as to gamble it away on short-sighted and not infrequently egi-driven projects of career poluticians interested in their power, not people) is one main characteristic of a capitalusm run amok. The late East German dissident and economist Rudolf Bahro succinctly called Communism Organized Irresponsibility. The present unhinged capitalism which tears our societies and their infrastructure apart has now achieved the same quslifucstion. It is Organized Irresponsibility to maintain everyone can look out for oneself. The paradigmatic image, then, is the crumbling subway as the symbol of siciety rent asunder, with the lowly people left underground together with the rats...
3
So, not being totally familiar with the subway funding regime, it appears that its time to either stick with the current capital improvements budget or re-create one, fund it properly and get back on some kind of normal schedule of upkeep
My God Man, the town depends upon it!!
My God Man, the town depends upon it!!
1
Joe Lhota is sadly underequipped to function in his current job. He is just another failed politician hanging on in a cushy appointed position as the wealthy continue to take care of their own.
Every member of the Board of Directors of our MTA should be required to ride the system everywhere they go. I know it's never going to happen. But IF we we're able to exact that much from the Board then I think improvements would happen quickly.
When their limos get a scratch or suffer some minor problem I'm sure it gets fixed right away!
Every member of the Board of Directors of our MTA should be required to ride the system everywhere they go. I know it's never going to happen. But IF we we're able to exact that much from the Board then I think improvements would happen quickly.
When their limos get a scratch or suffer some minor problem I'm sure it gets fixed right away!
People say New York has become the Monaco of North America. True. Underground, it looks and smells like the Calcutta of North America....
1
Raise taxes on the rich, the all-purpose liberal answer to every problem. Don't people get tired of hearing themselves spout the same tired cliches? Let's try something new: let the people who use it pay for it. How's that sound?
3
Increasing the local income tax is a terrible idea. Even New York millionaires are already overtaxed.
How about a pied a terre tax instead? Tax those who own the prime real estate at the city's center but do not pay into the city's treasury through income tax. They drive up the prices and occupy the scarce housing in the city's core, making it harder for everyone to live closer to work. Pied a terre owners take a lot more than they give back to the city. And, if the new taxes motivates them to sell their occasional homes, that's fine too.
BDB lacks imagination and guts. With re-election virtually guaranteed, he still kowtows to his real estate overlords. Still working off of the same tired playbook of class warfare.
How about a pied a terre tax instead? Tax those who own the prime real estate at the city's center but do not pay into the city's treasury through income tax. They drive up the prices and occupy the scarce housing in the city's core, making it harder for everyone to live closer to work. Pied a terre owners take a lot more than they give back to the city. And, if the new taxes motivates them to sell their occasional homes, that's fine too.
BDB lacks imagination and guts. With re-election virtually guaranteed, he still kowtows to his real estate overlords. Still working off of the same tired playbook of class warfare.
9
You can also tax tourists, no? They come to NYC to have fun! How dare they!
increasing taxes on wealthy New Yorkers is just the beginning.What about all those luxury condos built with 25 year tax exemptions or all those multinational companies that"needed" tax breaks to stay in town? As Republicans are known to say,if you can't afford the rent you need to move. The Luxury Cache of NYC costs a lot,you can't be the Disneyland of world commerce and entertainment without a means of paying for the upkeep. Just as Disneyland raises prices every year, cities and states need the same attitude.Come live,work,play here but you have to be able to afford the price of admission. The rides don't fix themselves.The supporting characters need to be fed,clothed,housed and gotten to where they're needed when they're needed. Corporate,city and state leaders don't seem to understand Maintenance is necessary when you can't just junk an old train system and buy a new one.
4
Why not sell "naming rights" for subway cars - and buses? My organization- the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign - ran a contest along these lines in 2003. Participating New Yorkers showed their sense humor (the winner: "A Street Car Named Perspire") and their home town pride (a runner-up: "The Spirit of Jackie Robinson." There are nearly 11,000 city subway cars and buses. That would allow many people to participate and help raise funds for an important part of New York.
2
From what I've heard, the problems are being caused by disgruntled employees gumming up he works.
1
I started using the New York subways in the 1950s. In comparison to the subways of Paris, London, and in the 1960s Moscow, New York's IRT and BMT were incredibly noisy, filthy, run down, crime infested and overcrowded. In 2017, New York's subway system is still incredibly noisy, filthy, rundown, crime infested, overcrowded and unreliable. No effort has been made to modernize cars with rubber wheels and silent tracks. If you want to see what modern subways can look like, take a ride on the Paris RUR.
3
I wonder when the City and State of New York are just going to throw in the towel and let the rats and trash swallow the subway system whole. They're certainly not going to emulate the great example of London and build a new subway system -- one that operates in this current century.
2
No matter how much money is raised in taxes and fare hikes, much of the money will be misspent and pissed away. Mismanagement, graft and incompetence are staples in New York and the MTA.
2
All of a sudden, the Trains don't run. Hmm? One would think such problems attributed to causing the delays, would've happened more gradually. Anyway, a solution might be to become a defiant sanctuary city; which could jeopardize federal funds (I summon the spirit of Gerry Ford). Sanctum would require NYC to take on an additional expense, as well as ridership burden; but hey, sanctum is not about reason it is about politics.
1
Crazy idea, but how about increasing costs for people that ride the subway?
Another one: how about getting more creative in getting more revenue from advertising, licensing, and related occupancy and trade fees for activities conducted in the subway?
A REALLY crazy idea: how about taking on the union and cutting out of control pension and retiree health care costs for the MTA, and cutting overstaffing and featherbedding?
It is always easy to find new revenue from 'the wealthy' or some other group, because it is always easy to suggest that someone else can pay for things another group wants. It is far harder to create efficiencies, lower costs, and lower prices, except that is what the private sector does every day and the public sector does only when forced to and then not for long.
Another one: how about getting more creative in getting more revenue from advertising, licensing, and related occupancy and trade fees for activities conducted in the subway?
A REALLY crazy idea: how about taking on the union and cutting out of control pension and retiree health care costs for the MTA, and cutting overstaffing and featherbedding?
It is always easy to find new revenue from 'the wealthy' or some other group, because it is always easy to suggest that someone else can pay for things another group wants. It is far harder to create efficiencies, lower costs, and lower prices, except that is what the private sector does every day and the public sector does only when forced to and then not for long.
2
Having lived in NYC and recently visiting WNY, not a cent for the subways should come from outside of NYC and perhaps the wealthy in the immediate burbs.
The problems and social emphasis of the NYC area are not those of most of the rest of the state. Let NYC figure it out, esp. its wealthy.
The problems and social emphasis of the NYC area are not those of most of the rest of the state. Let NYC figure it out, esp. its wealthy.
3
The problem with that is that huge numbers of people who live outside the city proper rely on public transportation. New York City has around 8.5m residents, and yet 35m people ride the subway every day. Millions of people commute from upstate (Metro North), further out on Long Island (LIRR), and from Westchester (express buses). The MTA supports all of that. Plus there is the fact that the vast majority of the state's tax base comes from the city itself, effectively meaning that New York City subsidizes road repair and other public services in the rest of the state.
7
If it wasn't for New York City the state would collapse. New York City IS New York.
6
GEM, next time you visit, I expect you to pay $650.00 for your fare from LaGuardia to Midtown.
1
End subsidies and tax breaks for real estate developers and condo buyers. The housing and commercial development boom is fueling ridership, so it seems like a logical place to go for revenue. that's the kind of taxing the wealthy that I can support.
12
There has been a lot of talk about the rise in rent and housing costs, particularly the high end, multi-million dollar condos. These are being snapped up as investments by corporations and plutocrats from abroad, who do not occupy them. Here is a source of income for the city. The owners of the apartments must be identified and, if they do not actually occupy them for at least half the year, they should be charged a hefty penalty. This kind of tax could go a long way to financing the public transportation system.
8
Unoccupied investment units pay all the taxes related to their value and real estate status yet require far fewer city services, ironically, like subways and busses.
Greed is good, right?
Change personal income tax rates back to those of the 50's. Treat all income as earned income (wages). Use the revenues to repair the infrastructure, support new businesses, ... initiate single payer health care ... adequately fund public education ... ....
and stop believing people who say "Oh, we can't do that."
and stop believing people who say "Oh, we can't do that."
3
I recall the reports on Jan 1 of this year about the big party to open the Second Avenue Subway line. People should read that New York Times article to see how much pride and optimism the public transit system enjoyed 7 months ago.
On your phone or a sidewalk kiosk, punch in your desired time of departure, origin, and destination. The system will assign you to a particular train. 10 minutes before the ETA, you will be alerted. You will advance to the not-mobbed platform to await the not-mobbed train.
The train system will function better because of reduced crowding, AND the rider can better spend his/her time drinking, shopping, or drinking, rather than packed on the platform.
The train system will function better because of reduced crowding, AND the rider can better spend his/her time drinking, shopping, or drinking, rather than packed on the platform.
2
People can't wait their turn now and they're going to accept AND comply with assigned travel times? I guess recreational marijuana is legal where you are.
1
They would not be allowed onto the platform without a "hot" ticket. Gates, you know.
Those who do daily repeats could set up a one-click regime to schedule their commutes.
Those who do daily repeats could set up a one-click regime to schedule their commutes.
SO NOW The gridlock in the NY subway system below-ground is mirrored by the political gridlock above-ground. Once again the 1% are being given a free ride while repairs and fares are subsidized by the 99%. Sounds like the same old GOPper tripe we've been hearing since 1980. The pack of lies about the "free market" and "trickle down." The market may be free for the 1% and they may benefit from trickle down. But the 99%, for the most part, do not. So what else is new?
2
The fixed fare for a subway/bus ride of any distance, together with the fact that the fares do cover the MTAs cost to move people, means that the public transportation is already subsidized. Our state and local taxes provide the funds for the subsidy.
If the system maintenance requires more funds, then a tax and/or fare increase is necessary.
The outrage, however, is Mr deBlasio's use of taxation to buy votes by targeting groups for an additional subsidy.
The tragedy is that tax incentives are given to real estate developers (for the wealthy), who then build up areas and bring on the collapse of the infrastructure (public transport; eventually sewers), requiring more taxation (of everybody, but the taxation of the rich is what makes its way into the speeches), some of which is skimmed for election year goodies.
If the system maintenance requires more funds, then a tax and/or fare increase is necessary.
The outrage, however, is Mr deBlasio's use of taxation to buy votes by targeting groups for an additional subsidy.
The tragedy is that tax incentives are given to real estate developers (for the wealthy), who then build up areas and bring on the collapse of the infrastructure (public transport; eventually sewers), requiring more taxation (of everybody, but the taxation of the rich is what makes its way into the speeches), some of which is skimmed for election year goodies.
4
To take your point one step further, Melitides, shouldn't it be a requirement for real-estate developers, particularly those developing high-density housing, to provide enhancements to public transportation and access to take some of the load off of the city and state governments for paying for upgrades?
Unfortunately, that sort of reasonable approach would turn the costs over to the occupants in the form of higher rents.
Even so, the developers should be one of the contributors to the solution to the public transportation projects.
Unfortunately, that sort of reasonable approach would turn the costs over to the occupants in the form of higher rents.
Even so, the developers should be one of the contributors to the solution to the public transportation projects.
4
I agree. And I don't blame the greedy developers so much as I do our local politicians. How are so many new development projects getting stamps of approval so easily, and with little to no thought for how our neighborhoods and streets and subways will accommodate these new residents? How can politicians, who are supposed to also serve as 'city planners' more or less, not understand that there needs to be consideration before all these new building structures are approved? The writing is already on the wall, that many neighborhoods (Astoria is one e.g.) are going to turn into another Williamsburg with overcrowded streets and subways. One new ferry line from the far Western side of Astoria (with no subway access nearby) to the far Eastern side of Manhattan (with no subway access nearby), is not going to make much of a dent in alleviating subway overcrowding in Astoria.
5
I lived in New York in the late 1970s and 1980s and visit it often. I love the city and find the subways in better shape now then 30 years ago. Having said that, the system is obviously in trouble. The city, especially Manhattan, is not sustainable without the subway system. The wealthy (and those visiting the city for a vacation) really enjoy the benefits of the city. Visitors pay a huge hotel room tax already. For all the reasons stated, simply increasing the fares will hurt many of the lower paid people that need to use the system to get to and from their jobs. As transportation is the commodity in question, yy vote would be to tax non-MTA surface transportation: a small tax for non-MTA buses, a larger "use" tax for cars. The best place to collect this "use" tax is for taxes at the gas pump and garages for inside Manhattan, maybe an annual fee for any car parking on the city streets, and bridge tolls for cars entering Manhattan. Spreading the pain to tax the wealthy is fine but is not going to raise enough revenue.
1
Drivers already pay higher city-related registration fees as well as high tolls that pay for more of a subway ride than a MetroCard. Try again.
1
Raising fares (amount & based on distance) as some suggest, is not a good solution for a number of reasons.
First, must be remembered that in NYC, luxury real estate has boomed pushing people out further and further. So there is an increase in people who must take subways. And a fare increase would hurt lower income people the most.
Second, NYC is full of affluent millennials (some supported by their parents) who appear to be happy to take Uber in many cases. Higher subway fares would cause more people to use Uber (or Via etc) causing more street congestion and pollution.
Third, over the past 6 or so years, the MTA has cut bus service and routes. Bus cuts become a self-fulfilling prophecy as people can no longer rely on buses and thus give up on buses. (BTW this is more of a problem on weekends as there are street fairs and parades, and bus riders have no reliable access to bus service as buses are re-routed and stuck in spillover traffic).
Worth noting that in Washington DC and I believe in London, bus fares are lower than subway.
And worth reiterating that a significant portion of the stress on the subway/increase in subway usage is because luxury real estate is pushing out people - who must then must take the subway and have longer commutes to work.
First, must be remembered that in NYC, luxury real estate has boomed pushing people out further and further. So there is an increase in people who must take subways. And a fare increase would hurt lower income people the most.
Second, NYC is full of affluent millennials (some supported by their parents) who appear to be happy to take Uber in many cases. Higher subway fares would cause more people to use Uber (or Via etc) causing more street congestion and pollution.
Third, over the past 6 or so years, the MTA has cut bus service and routes. Bus cuts become a self-fulfilling prophecy as people can no longer rely on buses and thus give up on buses. (BTW this is more of a problem on weekends as there are street fairs and parades, and bus riders have no reliable access to bus service as buses are re-routed and stuck in spillover traffic).
Worth noting that in Washington DC and I believe in London, bus fares are lower than subway.
And worth reiterating that a significant portion of the stress on the subway/increase in subway usage is because luxury real estate is pushing out people - who must then must take the subway and have longer commutes to work.
8
The very wealthy people who own the skyscrapers in New York City will never let the subway fail. They understand quite well that their buildings are not worth very much if they can't get people in and out of them easily. They will pressure the right political levers to fix this problem. I lived in New York City for 45 years and have seen this problem before.
1
The very wealth people who own the skyscrapers don't care.
That where the problem lies.
That where the problem lies.
6
You want to tax something? Tax the multi-million dollar rent, condominium and cooperative apartments. Often these are owned or rented by absentee owners/renters who spend little time in New York and are therefore not liable for much in NYC income tax.
12
Can The Times, or some other expert source, please explain why upgrading the subway signal system is estimated to take a half-century? That seems unreasonably long, even for a complicated, difficult project. At that rate any upgraded system would already be outmoded at its completion.
10
Things are only going to get worse. With the Mayor being in the pocket of real estate developers and 50-storey office buildings rising in Midtown, there is no way the infrastructure built for 1930 can handle the daily flow of commuters that will follow. Imagine twice the number of people in Grand Central subway station as are currently crammed unsafely onto the platforms each morning.
A complete NYC infrastructure investment and development plan must accompany the East Midtown (and all other) re-zoning analyses.
A complete NYC infrastructure investment and development plan must accompany the East Midtown (and all other) re-zoning analyses.
6
Not specific to this piece, but to me the word "crumbling" suggests that the subway is somehow like a stale cookie. Now perhaps there are a few pieces falling off their expected positions, but using the term "deteriorating" seems like a better choice.
The same applies to all the pieces about US infrastructure.
The same applies to all the pieces about US infrastructure.
3
The mayor is such a loser. NYC deserves who they voted for. HIs get up and go never got up as he has illustrated.
3
Take it from the Rich and give it to the Poor. At some point NYC just may run out of the Rich. Keep it up and you just may become Detroit.
3
You are kidding right? The rich have only gotten richer, the income distribution only flow upwards to the 1%. We are not running out of rich people and they are only getting more obscenely rich.
Here’s a start:
1) Get rid of the debt: The federal state and city must buy the debt (It could go up to $43 BILLION; https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/fiscal-year-2017-annual-report-on-ca... ). Also, the PBC law bond provision ( § 1266-C )must be repealed so that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can NO LONGER float bonds. The never-ending fare increases are part of the $2.5 BILLION a year in debt service on bonds. Future Capital programs must be paid by all NYS and done by a voter referendum and / or NYC and done by a voter referendum. This will be greater accountability, now the spending is “hidden”. Fare increases must be voter-approved.
2) Privatize parts of the transit system. Unionized costs are very high ( http://www.twulocal100.org/sites/twulocal100.org/files/contract_mou_2017... ) and segments that are privatized should have it done through attrition and buy-outs of union members. Will also reduce pension costs.
a) Refuse collection with private contractors (the Transit Authority (TA) uses trains to do most of the collection at night, by taking these trains off the tracks, less train delays and more maintenance work may be done every day).
b) Station cleaning should be privatized.
Private contractors MUST agree to employ NYC residents; also, must use “welfare-to-work” employees; House Ways & Means
1) Get rid of the debt: The federal state and city must buy the debt (It could go up to $43 BILLION; https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/fiscal-year-2017-annual-report-on-ca... ). Also, the PBC law bond provision ( § 1266-C )must be repealed so that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can NO LONGER float bonds. The never-ending fare increases are part of the $2.5 BILLION a year in debt service on bonds. Future Capital programs must be paid by all NYS and done by a voter referendum and / or NYC and done by a voter referendum. This will be greater accountability, now the spending is “hidden”. Fare increases must be voter-approved.
2) Privatize parts of the transit system. Unionized costs are very high ( http://www.twulocal100.org/sites/twulocal100.org/files/contract_mou_2017... ) and segments that are privatized should have it done through attrition and buy-outs of union members. Will also reduce pension costs.
a) Refuse collection with private contractors (the Transit Authority (TA) uses trains to do most of the collection at night, by taking these trains off the tracks, less train delays and more maintenance work may be done every day).
b) Station cleaning should be privatized.
Private contractors MUST agree to employ NYC residents; also, must use “welfare-to-work” employees; House Ways & Means
1
Seems like all the financing options involve charging/taxing anyone but the subway's riders. You know, the people who actually USE the system. Guess you can never have too much OPM.
3
The NY Times Editorial Board doesn't have an answer? It has an answer or a solution to all of the world's other problems.
5
Cuomo is the only governor ever to shutdown the subway. He has the means to improve the system, but prefers to use as a rhetorical point. Some friend.
The ridiculous signal upgrade schedule is a case in point. The MTA's plan is a joke: 50 years to upgrade the signals?! It took London 5 years, and today they enjoy the benefits of more reliable service and increased capacity through tighter scheduling.
The Times reported on it. Cuomo knows about it. Apparently he and Lhotta are ok with it. Better to beat up the mayor that to hold the MTA responsible for competent execution.
The ridiculous signal upgrade schedule is a case in point. The MTA's plan is a joke: 50 years to upgrade the signals?! It took London 5 years, and today they enjoy the benefits of more reliable service and increased capacity through tighter scheduling.
The Times reported on it. Cuomo knows about it. Apparently he and Lhotta are ok with it. Better to beat up the mayor that to hold the MTA responsible for competent execution.
1
Look to Asia for ideas and inspiration. Hong Kong's MTR and Singapore's MRT are miraculous to those of us who have lived or worked in NYC and depended on the MTA.
The idea of taxing the rich to pay for a system they probably don't even use is ridiculous to me. And I'm a lifelong Democrat.
Private/public partnership. Real estate/retail expansion to increase revenue. Distance based fares. More efficient ease of entry/exit. Enforced penalties for service shortfalls. Accountability.
And by accountability I mean everyone from the city to the state to the ridership. As riders we just can't continue to treat our trains as garbage dumps, no matter how frustrated we are.
The idea of taxing the rich to pay for a system they probably don't even use is ridiculous to me. And I'm a lifelong Democrat.
Private/public partnership. Real estate/retail expansion to increase revenue. Distance based fares. More efficient ease of entry/exit. Enforced penalties for service shortfalls. Accountability.
And by accountability I mean everyone from the city to the state to the ridership. As riders we just can't continue to treat our trains as garbage dumps, no matter how frustrated we are.
2
This is a greater problem of the entire political and taxation systems.
You continually have politicians that do not tell the populace the whole truth ( especially running for office ) of what the costs are to infrastructure. They wait until said infrastructure is in crisis and then tell the people, that they are ''forced'' to deal with it. ( ALWAYS at a much greater cost )
The taxes are not being adequately proportioned in society where if you make more, then you pay more exponentially\progressively to pay for said infrastructure. The wealthy and subverting their responsibilities, and are in charge of\promoting the ''sharing'' society ( AirBnB \ Uber ) who pay a fraction of taxes in accordance to taxis and hotels. Never mind that those businesses are breaking laws and the politicians do nothing about it. ( they work out deals )
On top of all of that, we could and should impose an addition to gas taxes. ( Say $1.00 more per gallon ) That would make people take public transit.
They would be carrying pitchforks, but they would still be taking transit.
You continually have politicians that do not tell the populace the whole truth ( especially running for office ) of what the costs are to infrastructure. They wait until said infrastructure is in crisis and then tell the people, that they are ''forced'' to deal with it. ( ALWAYS at a much greater cost )
The taxes are not being adequately proportioned in society where if you make more, then you pay more exponentially\progressively to pay for said infrastructure. The wealthy and subverting their responsibilities, and are in charge of\promoting the ''sharing'' society ( AirBnB \ Uber ) who pay a fraction of taxes in accordance to taxis and hotels. Never mind that those businesses are breaking laws and the politicians do nothing about it. ( they work out deals )
On top of all of that, we could and should impose an addition to gas taxes. ( Say $1.00 more per gallon ) That would make people take public transit.
They would be carrying pitchforks, but they would still be taking transit.
1
While raising the gas tax is an appealing thought and might just drive auto traffic off of the street, it will also make goods and services that rely on transportation significantly more expensive.
Raising the gas tax might also just drive people to leave the city, which, of cours, is not the worst idea in the world. But if sufficient people...and the companies that employ them...leave the city, then the city will be the net loser as the tax base on which they rely will no longer be able to support the largess that the politicians have lavished on their constituencies at the expense of the taxpayer.
All taxation ideas are designed to raise revenues. But there is a point that can be reached where each dime of tax increase returns a quarter or half-dollar less in revenue.
Raising the gas tax might also just drive people to leave the city, which, of cours, is not the worst idea in the world. But if sufficient people...and the companies that employ them...leave the city, then the city will be the net loser as the tax base on which they rely will no longer be able to support the largess that the politicians have lavished on their constituencies at the expense of the taxpayer.
All taxation ideas are designed to raise revenues. But there is a point that can be reached where each dime of tax increase returns a quarter or half-dollar less in revenue.
1
This is a greater problem of the entire political and taxation systems.
You continually have politicians that do not tell the populace the whole truth ( especially running for office ) of what the costs are to infrastructure. They wait until said infrastructure is in crisis and then tell the people, that they are ''forced'' to deal with it. ( ALWAYS at a much greater cost )
The taxes are not being adequately proportioned in society where if you make more, then you pay more exponentially\progressively to pay for said infrastructure. The wealthy and subverting their responsibilities, and are in charge of\promoting the ''sharing'' society ( AirBnB \ Uber ) who pay a fraction of taxes in accordance to taxis and hotels. Never mind that those businesses are breaking laws and the politicians do nothing about it. ( they work out deals )
On top of all of that, we could and should impose an addition to gas taxes. ( Say $1.00 more per gallon ) That would make people take public transit.
They would be carrying pitchforks, but they would still be taking transit.
You continually have politicians that do not tell the populace the whole truth ( especially running for office ) of what the costs are to infrastructure. They wait until said infrastructure is in crisis and then tell the people, that they are ''forced'' to deal with it. ( ALWAYS at a much greater cost )
The taxes are not being adequately proportioned in society where if you make more, then you pay more exponentially\progressively to pay for said infrastructure. The wealthy and subverting their responsibilities, and are in charge of\promoting the ''sharing'' society ( AirBnB \ Uber ) who pay a fraction of taxes in accordance to taxis and hotels. Never mind that those businesses are breaking laws and the politicians do nothing about it. ( they work out deals )
On top of all of that, we could and should impose an addition to gas taxes. ( Say $1.00 more per gallon ) That would make people take public transit.
They would be carrying pitchforks, but they would still be taking transit.
2
Cuomo needs to do a lot more. He is Governor of this state-- what is more important to the state than NYC? Utica??? (No offense, Utica.)
But meanwhile, the mayor could probably find *some* available cash if he could hold off funding every progressive "initiative" on Mark-Viverito's agenda.
While it would be nice if poor people got help with fares, I think the half-price cards would immediately be misused by many as an easy source of cash. (No offense, honest poor people.)
But meanwhile, the mayor could probably find *some* available cash if he could hold off funding every progressive "initiative" on Mark-Viverito's agenda.
While it would be nice if poor people got help with fares, I think the half-price cards would immediately be misused by many as an easy source of cash. (No offense, honest poor people.)
2
What is more important to the state, NYC or the rest of the state?
Perhaps it IS time to consider breaking NY into three or four smaller, less connected and more efficient states.
Perhaps it IS time to consider breaking NY into three or four smaller, less connected and more efficient states.
1
The New York Times has been going after Bill dee Blasio ever since he defeated The Times' endorsed candidate in the primary. And The Times just won't let up.
The truth is that de Blasio's proposal for a modest surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers is an excellent proposal, and would go a very long way toward funding major improvements in mass transit. But The Times refuses to give him any credit, claiming the proposal is "flawed" and that it will "fail to garner the support" to pass.
It's time for The Times to give de Blasio his due, and let go of its hurt feelings. The de Blasio proposal is excellent, and The Times editors should say so.
The truth is that de Blasio's proposal for a modest surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers is an excellent proposal, and would go a very long way toward funding major improvements in mass transit. But The Times refuses to give him any credit, claiming the proposal is "flawed" and that it will "fail to garner the support" to pass.
It's time for The Times to give de Blasio his due, and let go of its hurt feelings. The de Blasio proposal is excellent, and The Times editors should say so.
1
With wealth being easily relocated. and much of NY's wealth is now located in the New Jersey and Connecticut suburbs, it might not be wise to continue to tax wealth to the point where it decides to move.
To quote John McEnroe..."You CANNOT be Serious!"
Gov. Paterson and the Democratic led-legislature imposed 4 new taxes in 2009 (payroll, car rental, taxi and auto registrations) that now generate over $1.6 BILLION annually for the MTA. Apparently, that along with the auto-pilot fare and toll increases every 2 years is not enough.
There has not been any reform of the insane TWU pensions and work rules. Instead for the past six years, we have seen have out of control labor agreements. Gov Cuomo used all of the new taxes, tolls and fares to pay-off the TWU and keep everything quiet. Now the reality of the fiscal mismanagement is coming to the surface.
Please stop with the call for even more taxes. Get out of the Ivory Tower.
Gov. Paterson and the Democratic led-legislature imposed 4 new taxes in 2009 (payroll, car rental, taxi and auto registrations) that now generate over $1.6 BILLION annually for the MTA. Apparently, that along with the auto-pilot fare and toll increases every 2 years is not enough.
There has not been any reform of the insane TWU pensions and work rules. Instead for the past six years, we have seen have out of control labor agreements. Gov Cuomo used all of the new taxes, tolls and fares to pay-off the TWU and keep everything quiet. Now the reality of the fiscal mismanagement is coming to the surface.
Please stop with the call for even more taxes. Get out of the Ivory Tower.
3
This is clear evidence that a single payer \Government run health care system would NEVER work !!!
Those who don't learn from history....
NO one here even knows the history of why the MTA runs the NYC subways !
People...do a little research!!
Simple solution ...raise fares! Those who use the service should pay for the service!
Common sense.
3
Yet another symptom of Democratic Party rule in a blue state city. Let's see what they come up with, uh, higher taxes? Brilliant!
1
New York State gives over $50 billion a year to the federal government that it does not get back. It goes mainly to poorer state that vote against their interests, and can enjoy low taxes because we pay for their services. I'm asking the Governor and Mayor to jointly and loudly ask for more NYS taxes to the federal government to come back home. After all, Republican red states hate welfare, so we should stop giving welfare to them so we in NYC can get to work. Here is NYS contribution: https://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/08/americas-fiscal-union
2
Not included in you figures is the subsidy from other states to NY tax payers through the Federal Tax deduction granted for local NY taxes.
2
@Donna Gray
Ummm...yes the figures account for this as they are federal taxes collected. Please educate yourself on these matters before posting Fake News.
Ummm...yes the figures account for this as they are federal taxes collected. Please educate yourself on these matters before posting Fake News.
1
Brilliant idea by DeBlasio. Bleed all of NY's millionaires with a huge subway tax. The bigger the better. I am sure 99% of them are rich democrats who would love to help out the poor destitute commoners who are resigned to riding the miserable subways each morning. I am sure they all voted for the socialist DeBlasio. So tax them high and tax them often. Most of their riches are probably ill gotton gains anyway, earned on the backs of the workers. Remember the words of Obama. "If you got a business, you didn't't build that!"
1
I am a native New Yorker and while I never loved the subway system when I lived there, I could generally count on it to safely get me places for a fair cost and usually on time. Those days are over. DeBlasio and Cuomo are clown 1 and 2 and don't seem to really give a fig.
Here in Boston we too have an aging and seriously problematic "subway" system. A big issue here has to do with the exceedingly generous benefits the MBTA workers get including out of control retirement/pension packages. After the MBTA payouts, there isn't enough money left in the system to fix what is wrong let alone do a major overhaul, which is needed. Ticket prices keep going up, up, up. Overhauling the pension and benefits packages to keep them in line with reality would be a big help, but the pols are unwilling to take on the union thuggery.
Is this part of the problem with the NY MTA as well? When I go to NYC now I avoid the subway system like the plague...I walk or Uber it...same as I do here in Boston. It's a shame for two cities that are supposed to be "world-class".
Here in Boston we too have an aging and seriously problematic "subway" system. A big issue here has to do with the exceedingly generous benefits the MBTA workers get including out of control retirement/pension packages. After the MBTA payouts, there isn't enough money left in the system to fix what is wrong let alone do a major overhaul, which is needed. Ticket prices keep going up, up, up. Overhauling the pension and benefits packages to keep them in line with reality would be a big help, but the pols are unwilling to take on the union thuggery.
Is this part of the problem with the NY MTA as well? When I go to NYC now I avoid the subway system like the plague...I walk or Uber it...same as I do here in Boston. It's a shame for two cities that are supposed to be "world-class".
3
You can continue to throw billions at the problem. However the money won't do anything. What's money without a plan? The State, City & MTA have no plan and aren't even trying to come up with a solution. It's all a political dog fight between all of them and New Yorkers are paying the price.
Also the MTA is incredibly corrupt. It's unconscionable that with its budget it is unable to make necessary repairs and upgrades. Union labor is also a huge component of MTA incompetence. Weekend track workers literally stand around while one guy carries a bucket back and forth. This sort of blatant virtual "work stoppage" only seems to get worse.
Is it time for privatization? Tokyo's transit system is privatized and it works pretty well.
Also the MTA is incredibly corrupt. It's unconscionable that with its budget it is unable to make necessary repairs and upgrades. Union labor is also a huge component of MTA incompetence. Weekend track workers literally stand around while one guy carries a bucket back and forth. This sort of blatant virtual "work stoppage" only seems to get worse.
Is it time for privatization? Tokyo's transit system is privatized and it works pretty well.
6
This was the year that NJ Transit and PATH were going to get the media scrutiny they deserved, so that a certain tubby so-and-so would finally get his lazy rump off the beach, put down the nachos and actually do his job for once. But no-oo--oo-oooh, as John Belushi used to say. The MTA had to let the NYC Subway fall apart and steal all the media attention. Well, guess what, folks? NJ Transit and PATH are still falling apart, and not just on the New York side. Has any reporter ever been to Perth Amboy, or Elizabeth, or New Brusnwick, or any of the many other crummy NJT stations? And what exactly is the oozy goo that's been dripping at PATH's Newport station for about 50 years now? Mysteries will remain mysteries as long as they're on the wrong side of the river.
This is a greater problem of the entire political and taxation systems.
You continually have politicians that do not tell the populace the whole truth ( especially running for office ) of what the costs are to infrastructure. They wait until said infrastructure is in crisis and then tell the people, that they are ''forced'' to deal with it. ( ALWAYS at a much greater cost )
The taxes are not being adequately proportioned in society where if you make more, then you pay more exponentially\progressively to pay for said infrastructure. The wealthy and subverting their responsibilities, and are in charge of\promoting the ''sharing'' society ( AirBnB \ Uber ) who pay a fraction of taxes in accordance to taxis and hotels. Never mind that those businesses are breaking laws and the politicians do nothing about it. ( they work out deals )
On top of all of that, we could and should impose an addition to gas taxes. ( Say $1.00 more per gallon ) That would make people take public transit.
They would be carrying pitchforks, but they would still be taking transit.
You continually have politicians that do not tell the populace the whole truth ( especially running for office ) of what the costs are to infrastructure. They wait until said infrastructure is in crisis and then tell the people, that they are ''forced'' to deal with it. ( ALWAYS at a much greater cost )
The taxes are not being adequately proportioned in society where if you make more, then you pay more exponentially\progressively to pay for said infrastructure. The wealthy and subverting their responsibilities, and are in charge of\promoting the ''sharing'' society ( AirBnB \ Uber ) who pay a fraction of taxes in accordance to taxis and hotels. Never mind that those businesses are breaking laws and the politicians do nothing about it. ( they work out deals )
On top of all of that, we could and should impose an addition to gas taxes. ( Say $1.00 more per gallon ) That would make people take public transit.
They would be carrying pitchforks, but they would still be taking transit.
2
How can a plan be called "Move NY Fair Plan" not consider shifting the subway fare to one based on distance traveled, like every other train run by the MTA? Why should a Woodlawn to Coney Island trip be priced the same as a one-stop ride on the 2 line? Why should it cost less than Mt Vernon to New Rochelle on the New Haven line? Modern technology allows many subway systems to calculate fares based on distance. And low-income riders could still be subsidized if that is desired too!
2
No, sorry, you have missed the One Great Thing about NY subways. You pay one price and can ride anywhere forever, if you bring enough supplies. Why ruin that? We are nickel-and-dimed enough in life. Leave our unlimited rides alone! Thank you!
Re the MTA and NYC transportation funding, elected officials should give thoughtful consideration to enacting New York Assemblyman David Weprin’s 2017 bill, the “Infrastructure Jobs Bill”, A 4927, which will provide significant funding ($15+ billion) for the MTA and City’ transportation needs. The “Infrastructure Jobs Bill” will raise revenues without cost to New Yorkers through a unique dollar-for-dollar tax rebate program designed to improve the transportation ridership experience throughout the MTA service area and NYC surface transportation while creating more than 200,000 jobs and all at “zero cost” for New Yorkers.
http://www.certificateofdisposition.com/.../2013/05/MTA.jpg
http://www.certificateofdisposition.com/.../2013/05/MTA.jpg
but but but deblasio wants to built light rail in BK and add ferries...!? who elected this clown!?
3
Cuomo is a master in scurrilous politicking, now trying to pass the buck to Blasio...without the funds necessary to solve the urgent matter of transportation...so the NYC transit becomes functional again. "Pilate" Cuomo (Matthew 27), washing his hands on 'De Blasio's blood', taking for granted it is now De Blasio's responsibility...sounds familiar. The pesky detail of how to pay for it is left floating in an irresponsible 'thin air' of intractable escapism. What we need is a responsible adult in the room of decisions, faithful to it's constituents...as consumers.
1
Thankfully the issue of the pathetic state of the subway is coming to the fore.
I lived in London and Paris over a period of eighteen years. When I first moved to London, the Underground was the butt of many jokes. Eventually they started to filter in new cars, upgrade the signals, and generally modernize the whole system. Now, you rarely wait more than four to five minutes for a train, and in the city center more like two to three minutes. When I moved to New York I was amazed at the poor quality of the subway..... the wait times, not to mention the ridiculous unacceptable amount of noise in certain stations as trains rolled in, or as express trains passed thru. These noise levels are detrimental to one's hearing and other than an editorial about this published by The Guardian, I never hear it mentioned. This is New York City, not a Third World country.
I lived in London and Paris over a period of eighteen years. When I first moved to London, the Underground was the butt of many jokes. Eventually they started to filter in new cars, upgrade the signals, and generally modernize the whole system. Now, you rarely wait more than four to five minutes for a train, and in the city center more like two to three minutes. When I moved to New York I was amazed at the poor quality of the subway..... the wait times, not to mention the ridiculous unacceptable amount of noise in certain stations as trains rolled in, or as express trains passed thru. These noise levels are detrimental to one's hearing and other than an editorial about this published by The Guardian, I never hear it mentioned. This is New York City, not a Third World country.
2
Imagine that, a subway editorial. Disgusted commuters won't read it but the smart rats at city hall will. In the nice illustration which accompanied this editorial, one rat is crying. Is that a caricature of the mayor? Bravo to the illustrator, Bianca Bagarelli, if that was intended.
1
I have a suggestion that can begin right now to ameliorate the suffering of the commuting public, while all the bigger proposals are debated. It may sound radical, but here it is.
Let's start with cleaning the stations! Not just the stations in the high rent districts and tourist areas, but the entire system!!!
If the city were to purchase a few power washers, and assign a crew to go station by station to remove years of dust and grime, the wait would be more pleasant and less of a threat to public health. Also - RATS!
It could be done on weekends or off hours - it's not like the MTA has any problem shutting down entire lines, or skipping stations with our warning - think "weekend service changes"
The W4th St station has stains on tikes that have been there for 30 years minimum. The escalators at the 53rd St/5th Ave station having dust and grime hanging from he clings overhead.
In the Chambers ST/Brooklyn Bridge Station.. the 4/5/6 platforms are well maintained and lit. But were you to go around the corner, in the same station, and go down the stars to the J/Z, you would find an entirely different situation, with reeking urine, inches of ancient dust and debris, cans and bottles from decades past.
it isn't rocket science. It doesn't take any fancy equipment nor new technology. All it takes is a few people with a pressure washer and squeegees to mop it up. And it would show more respect to the riding public.
Start now.
Let's start with cleaning the stations! Not just the stations in the high rent districts and tourist areas, but the entire system!!!
If the city were to purchase a few power washers, and assign a crew to go station by station to remove years of dust and grime, the wait would be more pleasant and less of a threat to public health. Also - RATS!
It could be done on weekends or off hours - it's not like the MTA has any problem shutting down entire lines, or skipping stations with our warning - think "weekend service changes"
The W4th St station has stains on tikes that have been there for 30 years minimum. The escalators at the 53rd St/5th Ave station having dust and grime hanging from he clings overhead.
In the Chambers ST/Brooklyn Bridge Station.. the 4/5/6 platforms are well maintained and lit. But were you to go around the corner, in the same station, and go down the stars to the J/Z, you would find an entirely different situation, with reeking urine, inches of ancient dust and debris, cans and bottles from decades past.
it isn't rocket science. It doesn't take any fancy equipment nor new technology. All it takes is a few people with a pressure washer and squeegees to mop it up. And it would show more respect to the riding public.
Start now.
17
Exactly! We don't need 2 billion dollar re-models of stations, shuttering them for months, just a good thorough power-washing. I always say that but nobody listens to me!
If you want a government program to have widespread support then you should tax everybody. Take a look at Social Security. The GOP would love to gut SS, but they can't because everyone pays in and sees the benefit. If you tax just the rich, then they are going to dig in and fight like dogs. The well-off know what is next: they are going to be the "rich" paying next so they fight as well.
Instead of wanting to invest in the subway, the upper classes are going to say that we should just not invest in the subway at all. Building a world class system is going to require that everyone chip in so that everyone feels like they have a stake in it. By pandering to public with a program of "soaking the rich" deBlasio has 0 chance of success. He should instead be saying that the subway is a common good and everyone should help fix it.
Instead of wanting to invest in the subway, the upper classes are going to say that we should just not invest in the subway at all. Building a world class system is going to require that everyone chip in so that everyone feels like they have a stake in it. By pandering to public with a program of "soaking the rich" deBlasio has 0 chance of success. He should instead be saying that the subway is a common good and everyone should help fix it.
4
You're confusing the "upper classes" with the GOP. Most rich people I know would be happy to pay this relatively modest increase to improve mass transit. The Right has everyone befuddled to actually believe that none of us wants to contribute to improving our infrastructure. The Big Lies work because they appeal to the "natural greediness" of people. When precisely the opposite is largely true.
3
Bonds are popular with the rich. What they prefer is to make money from all the taxpayers instead of being part of the body politic which pays both types of taxes. The advantage to the body politic of creating a tax & pay system is that there are regular expenses that are known to occur and creating a system that accounts for that is better than one that dismisses maintenance, much less expansion.
It is a very good idea of Ellen's that stations & the system are kept clean, for the first thing any good mechanic does is clean the thing they are working on. Recently I personally had the experience of my computer breaking down, the entire repair resulted from its interior cleaning & nothing else was done to make it work again.
Imagine That!
It is a very good idea of Ellen's that stations & the system are kept clean, for the first thing any good mechanic does is clean the thing they are working on. Recently I personally had the experience of my computer breaking down, the entire repair resulted from its interior cleaning & nothing else was done to make it work again.
Imagine That!
1
I think everyone that pays taxes is already helping pay for the subway, and those that use it are paying even more. Having the rich pay a proportional share is not really "soaking" them.
I guess those billions spent on the luxurious and opulent world trade center station were well spent (instead of a more austere design that would have cost a fraction of the cost). NY needs to learn how to properly spend its money.
8
Do you live here? If not, you have no say.
Of course I don't live there. But freedom of speech exists throughout the US. Those in NY do not have a monopoly on it.
Plus I am sure NY will be begging the rest of the country for some of the money to fix its subway. You know, money that was used to build that opulent quasi-functional station could have been used for. but no matter, be sure to enjoy your longer commutes thanks to the subway authority's spending priorities.
Plus I am sure NY will be begging the rest of the country for some of the money to fix its subway. You know, money that was used to build that opulent quasi-functional station could have been used for. but no matter, be sure to enjoy your longer commutes thanks to the subway authority's spending priorities.
riders need to pay more. period. NY is one of the most expensive cities in the country to live in. yet the fare is only $2.75. In DC, by comparison, it is by distance with a fare the distance of the length of manhattan being about $6.00 each way. And there are no discounts for children or seniors.
Living in NY is an choice, not a privilege.
Living in NY is an choice, not a privilege.
4
I disagree about raising prices. Fares should be less expensive overall. It's a slap in the face of workers using the system to shame them into paying for the 'privilege' of being in NYC.
I do agree completely regarding distance based fares.
Singapore is the most expensive city in the world according to many of the articles published on this subject. It costs SGD$1.69 to go from one end of the NE line to the other. That's USD$1.24.
New York needs to do better.
I do agree completely regarding distance based fares.
Singapore is the most expensive city in the world according to many of the articles published on this subject. It costs SGD$1.69 to go from one end of the NE line to the other. That's USD$1.24.
New York needs to do better.
3
Well, yes. But $15 / day for Metro + parking ($300 / mo) is more than a monthly parking garage on Conn Ave ($220). Add in that Metro is far more unreliable than the MTA -- you have dwindling ridership.
1
Dickey,
I agree but I work in area with no parking so I have to cope. So sad. Just cannot wait to retire and leave DC.
I agree but I work in area with no parking so I have to cope. So sad. Just cannot wait to retire and leave DC.
Raise taxes on the wealthy, wow that really has the NYT reaching out of their comfort zone. The fact mentioned in the article that it only affects 32,000 people should give pause. They are a discrete group already paying the highest taxes in the country. And they don't have to stay in NYC. The politicians alway assume that they will pay anything for the privilege but there are tipping points. When one wealthy NJ money manager chose to move to Florida it actually required the state to recalculate the whole budget. If only 5% or 10% of the 32,000 start spending 182 days a year in Palm Beach it will cost the city far more than they hope to take it with this increase.
14
I agree. I would also like to add that what you say applies to not only the very wealthy but the middle class and above. NY is one of the most expensive cities in the country to live in. Many NYers (i.e., nurses, teachers, common laborers, etc.) would drastically improve their financial well being by leaving.
3
No need to move to Palm Beach. The NYC Income Tax is for residents only. Moving to Long Island or Westchester works.
1
You seem to forget that, along with the expensiveness, wages are higher here than in, um, more rural settings. And we like it here!
This is the classic case of there being apublic good that needs to be publicly funded. It is always difficult to get people to pay for such things, but just as city-dwellers helped pay for rural electrification, and just as people far from highways helped build the interstates, funding for the subway is a public good that should be funded by a much wider region than just its prime ridership. Anybody who benefits from the NYC economic engine benefits from the subway, and because it is nearly impossible to enumerate those individuals, it makes sense that the funding should come from the state and indeed federal levels. The Feds should be funding the major infrastructure (e.g. third tunnel to NJ, other major interstate projects) that affect any mode of transit, the state and city should be working together to fix this problem instead of pointing fingers. Otherwise the situation will deteriorate into an us vs them finger-pointing exercise where non-residents pay $5 or more per ride, which would help solve the overcrowding below ground and create more traffic problems on the streets. At which point the bridge tolls will increase for non-residents, and so on.
1
Otherwise the situation will deteriorate into an us vs them finger-pointing exercise where non-residents pay $5 or more per ride, which would help solve the overcrowding below ground and create more traffic problems on the streets.
in dc the fare is by distance. a fare the length of manhattan is $6.00 one way. In NY not even half that. Plus there are not the myriad "exemptions" in fare. NYers are spoiled.
in dc the fare is by distance. a fare the length of manhattan is $6.00 one way. In NY not even half that. Plus there are not the myriad "exemptions" in fare. NYers are spoiled.
2
Yoda, ride the 7 train sometime. It is full of poor laborers who can't afford to live where they work, so they live in the outermost boroughs and ride that long train every day. What you envision is a city full of millionaire hedge fund managers and bon vivants who choose to live in the suburbs. The reality is the far vast majority of the city population are just workers who don't make $75k per year much less millions. The D.C. system has its own issues, also not resolved by the fees to ride. What you suggest is absolutely a non-starter for NYC -I can't think of anything more punitive.
4
Are you kidding? Six bucks one way??? That is way too high a fare. We like our one price to go everywhere fares. It's currently the Only Good Thing about the subway system.
Why can't mass transit pay for itself?
1
You mean the way that roads pay for themselves? Because, of COURSE people who don't use roads don't have to pay taxes for them, right?
3
No transit "pays for itself".
Roads are built with tax money. And, no, the gas tax doesn't cover the bill. Policing roads is also a public subsidy. Trucks cause more damage to roads than their licenses and fuel taxes bring in. Cars and trucks of course also impose an ecological cost -- not just global warming, but also pollution -- that they do not pay for.
Mass transit systems worldwide are likewise subsidized because they create a public good. They enable people to live and work closer together more conveniently. Every rider is some not on the road, not contributing to traffic and pollution.
Try living sometime in a poor city with insufficient transit. Look at the pollution and congestion, the delays and crowding and inconvenience. That's the free market at work, every man for himself. Only social cohesion and support for the general welfare provide any remedy.
Roads are built with tax money. And, no, the gas tax doesn't cover the bill. Policing roads is also a public subsidy. Trucks cause more damage to roads than their licenses and fuel taxes bring in. Cars and trucks of course also impose an ecological cost -- not just global warming, but also pollution -- that they do not pay for.
Mass transit systems worldwide are likewise subsidized because they create a public good. They enable people to live and work closer together more conveniently. Every rider is some not on the road, not contributing to traffic and pollution.
Try living sometime in a poor city with insufficient transit. Look at the pollution and congestion, the delays and crowding and inconvenience. That's the free market at work, every man for himself. Only social cohesion and support for the general welfare provide any remedy.
4
its infrastructure - which has indirect benefits - like what - people being able to get to work - pay taxes and spend money - companies being able to run their business in a certain location - because it can attract workers to their location - who spend money in that area - creating more jobs and businesses - your welcome.
2
“Hey, he has more money than I have. Let’s take it!”
In these pages, “…can clearly afford to may more” is the alpha and omega of a justification to tax someone. But that doesn’t make it just.
Ambulance-chasing injury lawyers operate on the “principle” that right or wrong matters less than targeting the deepest pocket. Government fiscal policy should answer to a less grubby standard.
Consider that the people Mayor de Blasio targets with his new plan already pay more in taxes than most people make. Much of the tax money they pay already goes to support subways they are less likely to ride.
In contrast, the Move NY Fair Plan aims to raise money by taxing an activity that is worth discouraging – driving cars around the inner city.
It’s a classic tenet that you fund things you want to encourage (like mass transit) and tax things you want to discourage. People like Mayor de Blasio reveal a lot about themselves when their tax policies tacitly identify personal prosperity as something they want government to discourage.
In these pages, “…can clearly afford to may more” is the alpha and omega of a justification to tax someone. But that doesn’t make it just.
Ambulance-chasing injury lawyers operate on the “principle” that right or wrong matters less than targeting the deepest pocket. Government fiscal policy should answer to a less grubby standard.
Consider that the people Mayor de Blasio targets with his new plan already pay more in taxes than most people make. Much of the tax money they pay already goes to support subways they are less likely to ride.
In contrast, the Move NY Fair Plan aims to raise money by taxing an activity that is worth discouraging – driving cars around the inner city.
It’s a classic tenet that you fund things you want to encourage (like mass transit) and tax things you want to discourage. People like Mayor de Blasio reveal a lot about themselves when their tax policies tacitly identify personal prosperity as something they want government to discourage.
12
Our current extreme personal prosperity is created and protected by our laws and institutions, and leaves everybody else with income levels that barely increase from decade to decade. It is not good for the country and should be taxed or otherwise cut back.
A landlord who takes too much from his properties becomes a slumlord. If all landlords behave like that, everyone else will be able to find only slums to live in.
A landlord who takes too much from his properties becomes a slumlord. If all landlords behave like that, everyone else will be able to find only slums to live in.
1
It's time to build the infrastructure that will be used for the next generation instead of just making patch-work repairs on the last. Our entire country needs an infusion of infrastructure improvements. Instead of trying to cut taxes for the wealthiest 1%, Congress should be investing in mass transit projects that could create jobs for tens of thousands and upgrade our crumbling infrastructure.
7
what makes you think that money, if not used for tax cuts, would go in an efficient manner to public transit? What incentive do politicians (and taxpayers) have to do this?
Privitization may work better in that forces money to be generated for upkeep of infrastructure directly. No begging from state capitals or state politicians (known for their corruption).
Privitization may work better in that forces money to be generated for upkeep of infrastructure directly. No begging from state capitals or state politicians (known for their corruption).
2
Privatization does not force money to be used for upkeep. Private owners may suck as much money as they can from the infrastructure into other financial entities, and leave the infrastructure entities with decaying facilities and enormous debts. Leveraged buyouts often do this to corporations, and there is no reason in current law or practice why it would not happen to infrastructure entities.
States and localities know that decaying infrastructure hurts their tax base. If venture capital firms can walk away with the money rather than operating infrastructure, they win.
States and localities know that decaying infrastructure hurts their tax base. If venture capital firms can walk away with the money rather than operating infrastructure, they win.
2
sdavidc9,
the key is to design contracts that enable infrastructure to be maintained while the private entities make some profit. As it is, the subway authority in NY, as well as all public transit institutions (outside NY as well as within) have not been doing a good job at maintain that infrastructure. Few infrastructure projects in the US are adequately maintained. This is an institutional problem.
the key is to design contracts that enable infrastructure to be maintained while the private entities make some profit. As it is, the subway authority in NY, as well as all public transit institutions (outside NY as well as within) have not been doing a good job at maintain that infrastructure. Few infrastructure projects in the US are adequately maintained. This is an institutional problem.
If fixing the subway is to be the responsibility of the city then I propose passing the cost along through varying rates for residents and non-residents. Now it's our problem. No free-riders here.
1
It is dispiriting to remember that in the recent past there were years when the MTA had significant budget surpluses, including some that were a surprise to its own administrators. It was never clear to me what became of that money; it is quite clear what did not become of it.
5
Albany controls the MTA. Albany also controls NYC's ability to raise taxes and tolls.
NYC can propose a million ways to fund the MTA and make it functional, but ultimately Albany has to do something.
Albany: either fully fund the MTA, or allow the city to raise taxes and/or tolls as it sees fit to fund the MTA itself.
NYC can propose a million ways to fund the MTA and make it functional, but ultimately Albany has to do something.
Albany: either fully fund the MTA, or allow the city to raise taxes and/or tolls as it sees fit to fund the MTA itself.
11
NYC can propose a million ways to fund the MTA and make it functional, but ultimately Albany has to do something.
ALbany is a political machine. It works on the basis of votes. If it raises taxes to pay for this infrastructure it will be voted out of office. Hence the subways will not be fixed. This is an institutional problem, one that privatization may help.
ALbany is a political machine. It works on the basis of votes. If it raises taxes to pay for this infrastructure it will be voted out of office. Hence the subways will not be fixed. This is an institutional problem, one that privatization may help.
We need our city and state to take a more holistic and comprehensive approach towards the resources that our infrastructure, not just transit, receives.
This should include Mayor De Blasio's plan to generate funds by taxing high-income individuals and households for needed transit improvements and the subsidizing of the ever increasing subway fares for low-income New Yorkers. As well as the adoption of Move NY's Fair Plan.
Along with these, the city should also require that developers of towers near subway stations throughout the city pay for needed improvements to the stations in question, and expand the "public realm improvement fund" which would provide funding for the enhancement of nearby infrastructure, including the creation of pedestrian plazas.
This should include Mayor De Blasio's plan to generate funds by taxing high-income individuals and households for needed transit improvements and the subsidizing of the ever increasing subway fares for low-income New Yorkers. As well as the adoption of Move NY's Fair Plan.
Along with these, the city should also require that developers of towers near subway stations throughout the city pay for needed improvements to the stations in question, and expand the "public realm improvement fund" which would provide funding for the enhancement of nearby infrastructure, including the creation of pedestrian plazas.
1
When NYC was busy building its 722 miles of subway track it was pitched as a stimulus to real estate development and it was. But, the maintenance was never 'baked into the cake.' Private corporations ran the subways at first, and after they sucked all the nickles out of the capital expenditure they became negative assets of the government. Meanwhile, the real estate taxes never were raised in any manner approaching the additional profits that were and have been generated by the transportation provided to their respective destinations.
The Real Estate Board of NY - REBNY has proven a very effective political bribery tool. They tax their own workers- as brokers are independent contractors, and use that 'membership' to fund huge political slush funds to the benefit of developers, who are unlicensed, unqualified individuals distinguished primarily by their ego, willingness to gamble and greed.
We are now seeing what it is like to have one of the worst of these as a president of the United States. How is that $1Trillion infrastructure revitalization program grabbing you all? (Oh let's play golf in NJ and start a nuclear war in Korea).
Here is my "Trump Tax" proposal, a flat tax per square foot on all real estate that for every floor filed from the thirtieth floor up. This will be a rich petard for those who claim artificial heights to their (68th Floor) "towers." All the revenues from this tax will feed an MTA maintenance fund.
The Real Estate Board of NY - REBNY has proven a very effective political bribery tool. They tax their own workers- as brokers are independent contractors, and use that 'membership' to fund huge political slush funds to the benefit of developers, who are unlicensed, unqualified individuals distinguished primarily by their ego, willingness to gamble and greed.
We are now seeing what it is like to have one of the worst of these as a president of the United States. How is that $1Trillion infrastructure revitalization program grabbing you all? (Oh let's play golf in NJ and start a nuclear war in Korea).
Here is my "Trump Tax" proposal, a flat tax per square foot on all real estate that for every floor filed from the thirtieth floor up. This will be a rich petard for those who claim artificial heights to their (68th Floor) "towers." All the revenues from this tax will feed an MTA maintenance fund.
3
This is dead on, but too modest. The only reason Manhattan real estate has the value it does is because of the work force that can get to the buildings. Without the work force, the buildings are a fraction of their current worth. Bottom line: the subways make Manhattan what it is. The solution is to tax the real estate value of the buildings, a small, barely noticeable tax multiplied by all the high rise buildings provides the funding needed to fix the subways. Better yet, add that idea to the two others floated in this editorial, an all of the above approach, and there is truly a financial solution.
9
oh no - that can not be - rich white people make NYC what it is - everyone else is superfluous.
The cost charged to consumers is too low. $2.75 for a local ride, $6.50 for express and 1/2 cost for qualify for reduced fares. Annual ridership in NYC subway - 1.75B rides. $.75 increase would pay not only for maintenance but upgrades, new trains, etc.
Cost of a cab in NYC - try and do it for less than $10 for a short ride. Uber similar. Cost just of getting thru a bridge or tunnel in NYC $5.50-$8.50. Parking? fugetaboutit.
Cost of a cab in NYC - try and do it for less than $10 for a short ride. Uber similar. Cost just of getting thru a bridge or tunnel in NYC $5.50-$8.50. Parking? fugetaboutit.
3
I say the cost of riding this very poorly run system is too high. We're not consumers as there is no choice as to which tramsit system to ride. We are enforced buyers of a crappy, broken down, unreliable system. Pay more? You're nuts!
only one peripheral example - I live in NYC - one of the boroughs - its Saturday or Sunday - I would like to go into Manhattan do some shopping - maybe go to Macy's - I am very middle class - on a tight budget - five bucks - each way - sorry Macy's - sorry business in Manhattan -
Cut the waste, cut salaries of seniors at MTA and all bonuses.
Subway should be more affordable, but for everyone, not only the poor. Aren't the rich supposed to receive something for the big taxes they are paying?
How do they manage in Europe to have cleaner, more modern, prettier subways with half of what it costs in NYC or (in some countries even as little as 50 cents per ride)? Nobody in mgmt makes more than 100k per year. There are no million dollar salaries or bonuses.
Subway should be more affordable, but for everyone, not only the poor. Aren't the rich supposed to receive something for the big taxes they are paying?
How do they manage in Europe to have cleaner, more modern, prettier subways with half of what it costs in NYC or (in some countries even as little as 50 cents per ride)? Nobody in mgmt makes more than 100k per year. There are no million dollar salaries or bonuses.
4
More importantly, no subway drivers or conductors in Europe make more than $100K a year!
2
the rich - they live in a country where everyone pays to protect their goods and riches -
The MTA budget is simply enrichment of the few at the expense of the many. E.G. the filthy 168th St. no 1 station underwent an expensive and mostly unnecessary facelift. The $$$ drop ceiling was unneeded (hides the beautiful brick vault) and because of its weight destabilizes the vault The dangerous and unnecessary step-ups at the exits should have been eliminated( see 116th #1) remain and the railings are inadequate (adequate railing can be found at 79th St- S-W corner.) fFurthermore the cost of the facelift at 168th seems to be a secret -- (I blame Brewer, Stringer, DeBlasio - for NOT putting up at the site as was done at 96th St. a sign telling cost-- besides which there was a cost overrun of about 1/4!!) More standing room is no answer - nor are wider doors. The system needs to be run by robots (people are much more expensive and these are lush jobs at all levels). No maintenance is done.. the new stop at 168th is re-accumulating chewing gum At 103rd, the floors re NOT cleaned properly. A private company seems to power wash-- ineffective - does not remove gum nor dirt. NOT ONE PENNY of taxpayer $$ should be given to the MTA except for track and signal maintenance. (PS the ceilings should all be painted white, the railings painted -insulates hot/cold) granite floors are not necessary IMO. but clean floors are. A billion for this corrupt agency to play with? ( No maintenance, no common sense in construction materials,, no elevators for handicapped, no $$!)
2
"No maintenance is done.. the new stop at 168th is re-accumulating chewing gum At 103rd, the floors re NOT cleaned properly. A private company seems to power wash-- ineffective -- does not remove gum nor dirt."
Maybe the MTA can't keep up with all those users of the 168th street station who flick their chewing-gum wads onto the platforms and steps. Or toss their candy wrappers. Or who spit -- you know, those viscous blogs we try to sidestep.
How about people put their chewing gum back into the wrappers and hold it until they get to work or back home?
Maybe the MTA can't keep up with all those users of the 168th street station who flick their chewing-gum wads onto the platforms and steps. Or toss their candy wrappers. Or who spit -- you know, those viscous blogs we try to sidestep.
How about people put their chewing gum back into the wrappers and hold it until they get to work or back home?
The MTA notoriously does not bother with maintenance.. They hire private companies with power washers to wash the stations -- when one needs a scrub brush.. (and ps nearly anyone is physically able to do this sort of work .. It"s called cleaning and repaiing the house. THE MTA maliciously allows things to fall into disrepair so they can have a building project (kickbacks and contracts for friends.) The cost of the granite sidewalks at 96th street was huyge.. It looks nice in summer and is very slippery in winter. Do not ever make excuses for the nasty greedy people who run the city and the MTA. AND PS why don't we have an entirely automatic subway system-- cf BART -- by now? Why do we need two people per train? YES the robot economy will mean many don't have jobs rather allowances that pay less than their jobs.
Neither Cuomo nor DeBlasio really care about the subways. Voters and journalists need to come to grips with the realities. DeBlasio finds New York City boring but he needs a perch so he'll pretend he cares while he sells off every public asset including light an air to developers who will mow down our city to make it like "Singapore". He'll gather up those donations; get reelected and be as disinterested in the City including straphangers and residents as he has been for the last four years! He's not a progressive. He's an opportunist and a corporatist.
As for Cuomo, the subways didn't get this way overnight! No maintenance and a failure to staff up have resulted in a system that is failing to function. There are no quick fixes. No miracles. Governing requires that the man at the time focus on the basics but neither Cuomo nor DeBlasio care about that. It's all about the donations, the photo ops and the next office.
As for Cuomo, the subways didn't get this way overnight! No maintenance and a failure to staff up have resulted in a system that is failing to function. There are no quick fixes. No miracles. Governing requires that the man at the time focus on the basics but neither Cuomo nor DeBlasio care about that. It's all about the donations, the photo ops and the next office.
3
For years the lawmakers of NYS used MTA surplus money to balance their budgets . Now the chicken has come home to roost and they want NYC to write a blank check. No I say. MTA collects enough money through taxes. For example each person in the 5 boroughs and surrounding counties pay a MTA tax on their cellphone bill. Other MTA taxes include MTA business tax, and sales tax. Yes, the sales tax of 8.875% in NYC and Yonkers .875% goes to the MTA. 4.0 goes NY and 4.0 goes to NYC. And does it really cost a $16 to cross a bridge. How about laying off those MTA bridges and Tunnel cops and stop deploying state troopers to NYC to guard MTA bridges and tunnels. Sign a memordurm between the MTA and NYPD to guard those Bridges and Tunnels. That alone would save millions of dollars a year in relocating State Troops and paying overtime.
4
The MTA sales tax is .375%. Mayor Bloomberg raised the NYC sales tax to 4.5% in 2009
1
Double the fare. Let the people riding the subway pay for the subway. Let those riding the most, pay the most. There is your revenue stream. Taxes and fees should always as closely as possible hit those using the service. Increase tolls to pay for bridges. Increase water taxes to pay for pipes. It doesn't work for everything, but for basic infrastructure it's much fairer than an income tax which is a sledgehammer that is just more unfair redistribution. For the affluent, if the "help" can no longer afford the subway, their wages will have to go up as the wealthy are not going to wash their own dishes.
6
It's simply unrealistic to expect that people earning $50,000 or less to pay $12+ / day to get to work.
1
Since Wall Street depends on the infrastructure of NYC to continue its ridiculous casino downtown, the option that makes the most sense is a financial transaction tax - say a penny a share. It would soon become invisible and forgotten and would raise a ton of money.
6
The MTA is a corrupt rotten from within system that had to be privatized years ago. It is a seniority and not merit based system, which makes it inefficient and too much featherbedding. It has been that way from it's inception. The union runs the system not the management. Any politician who ever tried to change the system has failed as in the case of Mayor Lindsey. More money is not the answer, changing the business model is.
4
Do not keep investing in outmoded infrastructure. Clear streets of cars and create contemporary surface transportation that can go everywhere. Have it paid for by advertisers. Think beyond the box.
2
New Yorkers really ought to think about moving elsewhere. Businesses should think seriously about relocating. The petty disputes between the mayor, the governor and the legislature are all part of a corrupt system that's giving Shelly Silver another trial and keeps construction projects going interminably at the expense of the people who live and work in the city. Nothing ever gets finished. The Port Authority is more corrupt than the Kremlin. The police are given free reign in their rudeness and brutality. Try entering or exiting any of the tunnels or bridges anywhere near a rush hour and you'll be steaming mad. Go underground and face delays and overcrowding and general stupidity. Our leaders are failing us, yet we fail to replace them with competent people. Cuomo, in particular, has got to go this time. New York, this is your last chance!
6
Sorry. Not this New Yorker.
Goodbye and have a nice trip.
Goodbye and have a nice trip.
I would like to see the NY Times go to each elected officials district with a subway station. Then ride the subway and walk the train station with them. Start with Harlem's Assembly Member Dickens who has yet to even say a peep about the train derailment in her district. Does she know there is a train station in her district? When was the last time she road a subway? Why has she not answered any constituent calls or emails regarding the train service in her district.
3
I visited friends in NYC last October, after a gap of about 5 years, and was struck by the deterioration subway services: long gaps between trains. incorrect destinations signs, employees who had no idea what was going on. The stations remain of course among the most miserable in the world. Still, it did encourage me to walk more. But a city of the stature of New York deserves better than this.
31
That's very shortsighted. If the subway is so expensive low income people cannot afford to use it and move away, who will clean your building? Who will teach your kids? Who will pick up your garbage?
And in the mean time less people using the subway means more traffic with people driving or taking taxis, Ubers and Lyfts. So you will be stuck in traffic more. Is that what you want? And how do you think roads are paid for?
Not to mention that MTA NYC transport already has a high recovery rate of 41% (meaning 41% of MTA's NYC budget is paid for by fares.) For the commuter railroads it's even higher.
Point is: with a good functioning and affordable subway system everyone profits.
And in the mean time less people using the subway means more traffic with people driving or taking taxis, Ubers and Lyfts. So you will be stuck in traffic more. Is that what you want? And how do you think roads are paid for?
Not to mention that MTA NYC transport already has a high recovery rate of 41% (meaning 41% of MTA's NYC budget is paid for by fares.) For the commuter railroads it's even higher.
Point is: with a good functioning and affordable subway system everyone profits.
Sorry, that comment was meant for a different commenter. Please disregard or remove!
The subway system should have never reached "crumbling." Every politician, going back decades and no matter his or her party, has failed to tackle the infrastructure problems of NYC. And I read this editorial and just know that they are bound to fail again as they are "publicly tossing around ideas."
24
Hyperbole on the part of the Times writers-- who really don't pay attention to what is really going on in the subways.. This is nothing new...
BTW the IRT #! was running at 2 minute intervals this AM and after that 8 minute interval, 9 minute interval -- why we need robots running the trains... but that would eliminate excellent jobs for many people who could never find another job.. (and cleaning /painting/plastering a subway station is just not challenging enough for them... I can do all this but then I have a PhD!!)
BTW the IRT #! was running at 2 minute intervals this AM and after that 8 minute interval, 9 minute interval -- why we need robots running the trains... but that would eliminate excellent jobs for many people who could never find another job.. (and cleaning /painting/plastering a subway station is just not challenging enough for them... I can do all this but then I have a PhD!!)
It's nice to see that everyone agrees that 1) things totally need to be fixed and 2) it's totally not their fault
Nobody who rides the subway gives one lick about which politician is going to fix it - just fix it. We're the "greatest city in the world" - albeit with the most embarrassing and antiquated subway system. Our country is a footnote compared to he long storied histories of European and Asian countries/cities - and yet somehow they have some of the most efficient and safe models of public transportation.
Nobody who rides the subway gives one lick about which politician is going to fix it - just fix it. We're the "greatest city in the world" - albeit with the most embarrassing and antiquated subway system. Our country is a footnote compared to he long storied histories of European and Asian countries/cities - and yet somehow they have some of the most efficient and safe models of public transportation.
23
None of which deal with the same capacity, and none of which are 24-hours a day.
No one talks about the elephant in the room.
Pension and healthcare costs for transit workers are consuming more of the budget with each passing year. The MTA's smoke and mirrors accounting attempts to mask this to the public and our mayor and governor dare not say anything to upset the union. But riders are getting the short end of the stick and capital expenditures are being crowded out
in favor of generous benefits. Before you ask us to pay more how about asking workers to contribute more to their pensions and healthcare like the rest of us.
Pension and healthcare costs for transit workers are consuming more of the budget with each passing year. The MTA's smoke and mirrors accounting attempts to mask this to the public and our mayor and governor dare not say anything to upset the union. But riders are getting the short end of the stick and capital expenditures are being crowded out
in favor of generous benefits. Before you ask us to pay more how about asking workers to contribute more to their pensions and healthcare like the rest of us.
13
At this point - EVERY idea should be on the table. The subways will always be subsidized by taxes - it can't survive on ticket cost alone. How much do we pay on the services needed to coordinate/collect those tickets? Make the subway free - you can cut personnel costs to administer ticket prices. You can cut the maintenance fees needed for turnstiles. Yes, the idea would probably not work - but lets at least throw it out there. No ideas are bad ideas at this point - what we've done in the past is obviously not working!
5
You're right! I always say this, but nobody listen.
Public transit should be free for all, just like roads and sidewalks.
And by doing so, you save all the effort and cost of collecting fare.
It's a no brainer. It's win-win for all.
Public transit should be free for all, just like roads and sidewalks.
And by doing so, you save all the effort and cost of collecting fare.
It's a no brainer. It's win-win for all.
After giving this problem much thought, I've come to the conclusion that there is no way to fix the problems with Transit while it is under the control of the MTA. We must democratize the control of the system so that the people of New York City can hold Transit management to account through elected officials who can be held accountable at the ballot box.
2
How about moving some companies to rural new york?
2
My theory on why the subway system in NY suddenly sucks.
It no secret that the subway system as a whole took a downturn when the 2nd Avenue line opened. Here's why I suspect: Not enough train cars. They didn't order new train cars for the new line, and took trains from other lines that would fit those rails. Not all subway car lines are interchangeable because they were built a long time ago without uniform rail and tunnel widths and station lengths... BUT several are compatable, and it seem that it's those "compatible" lines which are the ones have the most trouble of late… BECAUSE, when the new line opened the took cars from existing lines. They have enough cars in theory, BUT subway cars like any mechanical device break down at a certain rate. That break down rate was built into the number of cars that service existing lines, but now that the new line is syphoning cars off the existing lines, the break down rate to operating rate of the subway cars are off. Cars that are not fully repaired are being put back in service, there are not enough repair personnel to turn around faulty cars when a car is taken out of service because of an incident, or police investigation, there are fewer options to replace it, and under the pressure to keep everything going.
The number of cars is now out of sync with how many cars are demanded for the system to run properly.
It no secret that the subway system as a whole took a downturn when the 2nd Avenue line opened. Here's why I suspect: Not enough train cars. They didn't order new train cars for the new line, and took trains from other lines that would fit those rails. Not all subway car lines are interchangeable because they were built a long time ago without uniform rail and tunnel widths and station lengths... BUT several are compatable, and it seem that it's those "compatible" lines which are the ones have the most trouble of late… BECAUSE, when the new line opened the took cars from existing lines. They have enough cars in theory, BUT subway cars like any mechanical device break down at a certain rate. That break down rate was built into the number of cars that service existing lines, but now that the new line is syphoning cars off the existing lines, the break down rate to operating rate of the subway cars are off. Cars that are not fully repaired are being put back in service, there are not enough repair personnel to turn around faulty cars when a car is taken out of service because of an incident, or police investigation, there are fewer options to replace it, and under the pressure to keep everything going.
The number of cars is now out of sync with how many cars are demanded for the system to run properly.
2
No discussion about the ridiculous amounts of money thrown into the look of the new stations? How many billions were spent on station visuals on the 2nd Ave line (vs the actual tunnel) and at the Hudson Yards stops? It would be great if the money for vanity were there but it's not, so why should people pay more to subsidize wasteful spending?
6
Cosmetic improvements are ridiculously inexpensive relative to major capital projects. Cutting all the aesthetic niceties on the 2nd Ave line wouldn't save enough to build enough tunnel to get to one more station. That's why they do them--they're cheap and look good, so they hope to pacify the public into thinking they're "doing something."
6
And what about the South Ferry Station, totally rebuilt twice in the last 12 years, and at what cost?
2
@ Pentelicon: That's incorrect. According to Business Insider, 2.4 billion went to the stations and building the tunnels and tracks was 734 million.
3
How about sell some revenue bonds while we are at historically low interest rates?
1
Don't you read the papers?? Greece, Puerto Rico, Illinois, Chicago, Hartford............
The MTA's budget problem won't vanish. The system needs a reliable flow of dedicated revenues for the future.
For starters, de Blasio's plan makes a lot of sense, as does a tax on luxury housing. Longer-term, fare increases will probably have to be imposed.
As for those who contend that MTA workers are "greedy," while upper-income New Yorkers should be spared tax increases: these assertions turn logic on its head.
For starters, de Blasio's plan makes a lot of sense, as does a tax on luxury housing. Longer-term, fare increases will probably have to be imposed.
As for those who contend that MTA workers are "greedy," while upper-income New Yorkers should be spared tax increases: these assertions turn logic on its head.
1
Tax AirBNB income. Put a surcharge on Uber usage. Add a tax to all luxury housing that is not a primary residence and any income made off renting the space. Implement a surcharge on daily parking garage payments. Implement congestion pricing on tolls.
5
Just curious, how long have our politicians known about the problems with our mass transit system? Yet, we are still in the "proposal" process.
What does this say about our politicians?
How about we get something done?
What does this say about our politicians?
How about we get something done?
14
Certainly a task force should be appointed to look into that.
If one can be sure of anything, it's that Governor Cuomo will suddenly have a change of heart about New York City's problems around election time, when a photo-op is suddenly worth a thousand words.
22
Headline - After 4 years, the mayor finds out that there are subways running underground! What is really needed is congestion pricing to encourage people to use mass transit and to make money for funding it. Why?
1. Mass transit uses a tiny amount of fuel compared to personal vehicles. Hundreds are moved for the same amount of energy as moves a single motor vehicle.
2. Pollution. See no. 1.
3. Global warming. See no. 1.
4. Drivers cost the city a lot of money that they don't repay, in road repairs and the costs associated with frequent motor vehicle accidents (policing, medical care, and lawsuits).
5. Motor vehicles are dangerous to pedestrians.
6. Food and goods are delivered to Manhattan by truck. Because it is so congested, delivery costs are high, and those costs are passed on to consumers.
7. There are no middle class drivers who can't afford congestion pricing, since it costs $50 to park a car in Manhattan - unless they are scamming the system with a parking pass.
8. Street parking takes up much of New York City road space. It should be used for pedestrians.
Unfortunately, the mayor cares not a whit about global warming or pollution, and is adamantly against congestion pricing. He also is cheap (why else does he need to waste half his day traveling to the Park Slope Y instead of paying for membership at a Manhattan gym?); he plans on driving after he is mayor, and he does not want to pay a fee.
1. Mass transit uses a tiny amount of fuel compared to personal vehicles. Hundreds are moved for the same amount of energy as moves a single motor vehicle.
2. Pollution. See no. 1.
3. Global warming. See no. 1.
4. Drivers cost the city a lot of money that they don't repay, in road repairs and the costs associated with frequent motor vehicle accidents (policing, medical care, and lawsuits).
5. Motor vehicles are dangerous to pedestrians.
6. Food and goods are delivered to Manhattan by truck. Because it is so congested, delivery costs are high, and those costs are passed on to consumers.
7. There are no middle class drivers who can't afford congestion pricing, since it costs $50 to park a car in Manhattan - unless they are scamming the system with a parking pass.
8. Street parking takes up much of New York City road space. It should be used for pedestrians.
Unfortunately, the mayor cares not a whit about global warming or pollution, and is adamantly against congestion pricing. He also is cheap (why else does he need to waste half his day traveling to the Park Slope Y instead of paying for membership at a Manhattan gym?); he plans on driving after he is mayor, and he does not want to pay a fee.
4
Right and wrong.
Without improvements in the capacity of the system to handle more riders it will be even WORSE. Part of the present problem is increased ridership. So you may want to take a gander at your list.
Without improvements in the capacity of the system to handle more riders it will be even WORSE. Part of the present problem is increased ridership. So you may want to take a gander at your list.
1
I actually did the math for TTC (Toronto subways and buses) and GO Transit (Toronto suburban trains), and it looks like TTC emits an equivalent of 1 litre of gasoline per trip, while GO emits an equivalent of 2 litres.
It's better than cars, indeed, but not THAT much better.
It's better than cars, indeed, but not THAT much better.
1
Tax the "billionaire" luxury housing.
Those folks don't live here - just using NYC to hide their money. And the development of super-luxury buildings for this demographic has resulted in hyper-gentrification and loss of housing for actual New Yorkers.
Those folks don't live here - just using NYC to hide their money. And the development of super-luxury buildings for this demographic has resulted in hyper-gentrification and loss of housing for actual New Yorkers.
105
They are taxed already - something called property taxes. Actually these type of people generate a massive windfall for the City Treasury - they dont use any services (because as you say they are only using the residence to hide their money - they dont actually live in the condos) but pay huge amounts of real estate taxes. Go ahead and chase them away. Smart move.
3
By your reasoning gentrification of this sort should mean fewer riders as residents of these buildings are unlikely to use the subway; and the population density is less.
1
This. So much this.
Long term, expense management should take priority over finding new sources of revenue. I would be far more inclined to throw money at the MTA if improvements didn't cost more here than they would anywhere else in the world.
4
The M.T.A. has been unable to maintain their budgets for years. An underlying issue is pensions. Let's have full transparency on MTA workers salaries, pensions, medical costs, and then bring in operational costs. Fix the budget, then we can fix the system. Throwing money to a compulsive gambler never solves the problem.
26
Promote and encourage virtual office, if not daily at least a few times a week.
Many of my colleagues and I rarely interact directly with those seated around us and spend our days in email and on the phone with people through the globe. We often work at home where we have everything we need - including video conference capability - but it's neither encouraged nor the norm. Why we need to commute daily to an office in order to stare at a screen and speak into a phone is beyond me.
Remote work would reduce carbon footprint, wear and tear, and crowds.
Many of my colleagues and I rarely interact directly with those seated around us and spend our days in email and on the phone with people through the globe. We often work at home where we have everything we need - including video conference capability - but it's neither encouraged nor the norm. Why we need to commute daily to an office in order to stare at a screen and speak into a phone is beyond me.
Remote work would reduce carbon footprint, wear and tear, and crowds.
9
Business is good. Income tax, sales tax and real property tax collections are up. The City and the State have huge budget surpluses, $4.2 billion for the City, as per State Comptroller Di Napoli, and even more for the state. Use that money for this. No need to tick people off and scare them away by raising taxes.
4
It is sad that the mayor has to play populist politics in his craven approach to more handouts by including a significant amount his plan to reduce the cost of rides for his base. When the NYC public transportation system works, it is one of the cheapest and most efficient public transportation system in the word. Compare the cost to the Bay Area BART system or London's Tube. I do not support any plan that uses funds for anything other than operation improvements. Additionally, given the appearance of impropriety that the mayor's administration has shown in the past, I would not support any additional control of this system by this administration.
4
Get control of MTA out of Albany's hands. It's a local transit system and should be managed locally.
Look at Transport for London as a stellar example.
New York City should always start any discussions with that proposal.
Look at Transport for London as a stellar example.
New York City should always start any discussions with that proposal.
46
NYC is not and has never been fully committed to mass transit in the style of modern European cities. Congestion pricing, SAFE bicycle lanes, trams on major streets, express buses on ALL major streets (why not Broadway?) and closure of streets to private vehicular traffic between 96th and 14th streets at least during morning and evening rush hours, more pedestrian zones etc. will all help to accomplish said goals of faster and cleaner transit. Anyone???
39
Yes. Surcharge non-subway transportation to subsidize mass transit. Two things happen, mass transit becomes more accessible and desirable and private transportation becomes more costly for those who can afford it and select it. It works for everyone, it is smart, it is the thing to do.
23
I think Mayor De Blasio's plan to give half-priced Metrocards to the poor is excellent and should be supported, not flicked aside like an idealist's daydream. The Metrocards function almost like a poll tax -- they're expensive for everyone, but plenty of New Yorkers can cover the expense easily while a massive number can't.
Also, is it completely misguided to say the MTA does have a steady revenue stream -- riders' payments for the Metrocards? I'm not saying the fare is too high -- in cities like London it's much higher -- but it is at any rate constant, as thousands of people buy the cards daily. This mountain of cash pouring into the MTA's coffers is always ignored in discussions of the company's woes.
Also, is it completely misguided to say the MTA does have a steady revenue stream -- riders' payments for the Metrocards? I'm not saying the fare is too high -- in cities like London it's much higher -- but it is at any rate constant, as thousands of people buy the cards daily. This mountain of cash pouring into the MTA's coffers is always ignored in discussions of the company's woes.
7
How long before the poor start selling these half-priced cards on Craigslist?
5
A poll tax?? Really? I think that label does violence to our terrible history of poll taxes.
And actually people should pay to use the system. Part of the problem, and only part, is that ridership is up on the system. If you lower the fee and do congestion pricing on cars, without major improvements to Subway capacity, the trains will be Worse.
And actually people should pay to use the system. Part of the problem, and only part, is that ridership is up on the system. If you lower the fee and do congestion pricing on cars, without major improvements to Subway capacity, the trains will be Worse.
2
if all the condos that are mostly unoccupied were to pay RE taxes, this would probably make a large dent in the needed funds. this would, if course. require a change in the tax code. but it could apply only to non-US residents or citizens. there should be little political resistance. of course it could also be expanded to include people who maintain a second home in, say, Florida in order to claim non-residency. if they vote in NY and they use the residence longer than some number of days, reduced from the current number, then they should share in the cost of maintaining the services that they use.
65
Real Estate taxes are payable whether or not the owner is a US Citizen or not and whether or not a condo is occupied or not (technically the building pays real estate taxes which are not dependent on whether units are occupied or sold - if not sold by the developer the developer typically pays the taxes allocated by the building to unsold).
2
Thank you. I wish I could recommend this post more than once.
The city/state should tax apartments owned by non-resident.
You could tax all apartments and give residents a full rebate.
The city/state should tax apartments owned by non-resident.
You could tax all apartments and give residents a full rebate.
@GSB
But you are recommending a post based upon a fallacy. Why does that excite you?
But you are recommending a post based upon a fallacy. Why does that excite you?
1
First and foremost New York City's transit system must be the responsibility of the Mayor and the City Council not a Governor and Legislature in Albany. Then the quality of NYC's subways and buses will be front and center every time a Mayor and City Council members run for election and re-election. Right now Mayor de Blasio can hide hide behind the fact he does not control public transit in NYC and why for the first 3 1/2 years as Mayor he never mentioned thw subways or even rode them.
43
Why does the NYTimes think congestion pricing is a better solution to the MTA budget? The tax on wealthy New Yorkers proposed by the Mayor is not likely to make it through NY State legislature, but neither did congestion pricing advocated by Mayor Bloomberg. Both are good ideas, maybe we should advocate for both.
9
The mayor’s plan is all about politics, and not much about raising money for the MTA. New York City already adds a 4% premium to the already high New York State income tax rate. Meanwhile, the state with the highest per-capita income is Connecticut. Coincidence? I think not. Raising that tax even more will drive even more successful people out of the city. Not only will the city lose that tax revenue, but these people often take their companies with them. Does anyone wonder why there are so many hedge funds in Connecticut?
If you want to have a progressive tax system in NYC, it needs to be based on real estate taxes. I don’t have the data available, but I suspect that NYC has more dollars worth of second homes than any other city in the world. Yet, real estate taxes are surprisingly low and unbalanced.
As for fixing the subways, the MTA simply needs to hire one very smart person who can figure out how to solve the train-tracking problem without spending the billions of dollars and decades of time that the MTA leadership claims is needed. Then, we can run far more trains on existing tracks. A Tesla car can navigate city streets without a driver. Surely, navigating a train is easier than that!
If you want to have a progressive tax system in NYC, it needs to be based on real estate taxes. I don’t have the data available, but I suspect that NYC has more dollars worth of second homes than any other city in the world. Yet, real estate taxes are surprisingly low and unbalanced.
As for fixing the subways, the MTA simply needs to hire one very smart person who can figure out how to solve the train-tracking problem without spending the billions of dollars and decades of time that the MTA leadership claims is needed. Then, we can run far more trains on existing tracks. A Tesla car can navigate city streets without a driver. Surely, navigating a train is easier than that!
7
Real estate taxes are in no way progressive as practiced in NYC. Multiple dwellings pay three times the tax rate as single family houses unless they are newly built condos that are exempt from taxes for a number of years. The result is that those who can not afford a house pay nearly as much tax through their rent or co-op maintenance as single family homeowners. All residential property should be taxed on the same basis.
6
David, I couldn’t agree more. The current system of real estate taxes in NYC is horribly broken, and needs to be fixed. But if we want to increase tax revenues for the city, this is the only way to do it without driving the most successful people out. Of course, if we overdo it, they’ll leave anyway and NYC will return to the urban blight of the 70’s and 80’s.
3
David is right. My mother in law's two family house in Astoria is taxed to the tune of $7500/year (a pittance compared to LI or Westchester where property taxes fund the schools), yet it is precisely $7500/year MORE than is paid by billionaire idiot Jimmy Dolan for Madison Square Garden, whose 100% property tax abatement is said to be currently worth $17 million per annum.
1
it would be great if The Times could report on the specific failures leading to the mess we have and what possible range of interventions independent of de Blasio and Cuomo could make a difference.
I read weird articles saying delayed investment here or switching system being old and it will take decades. Why?? And why not interim measures ? And and and....
I reject that competent engineers couldn't do something if given resources.
I read weird articles saying delayed investment here or switching system being old and it will take decades. Why?? And why not interim measures ? And and and....
I reject that competent engineers couldn't do something if given resources.
7
New York State needs a new governor committed to improving mass transit. Andrew Cuomo, after all these years, has failed to show the requisite understanding and leadership.
14
Excess Taxing of wealthy residents is always a bad idea but always floated by liberals. It never raises nearly as much money as liberals want. Wealthy NYC residents can afford to pay CPAs and lawyers to find ways to reduce their taxes or simply move out of the city (or use their second homes as primary residences). The MTA needs to find more ways to cut staffing costs, health benefits and pensions for the greedy union workers. The same goes for non union "management." I ride the subway all the time and am aware of the problems. Taxing the "rich" is not the answer.
11
But surely cutting the middle income wages and benefits of transit workers solves the problem, right? Studies have shown that people don't flee their homes because of a new tax. Living in CT is also expensive, maybe not as expensive as Manhattan, but a lot of those people want a suburban life. Apples and oranges. There's a lot of big money in NYC and those that have it need to pay their fair share. If they have CPAs and lawyers to find the loopholes, then those loopholes have to go. Or perhaps the wealthy can grow a moral center and pay what they owe.
12
DW - first, MTA workers are overpaid for the value they generate. Maybe they should try being helpful and actually working. Second, it is vey different to actually move to avoid taxes vs move on paper. Most people affected by the new tax have second homes that they would declare their primary residence. Believe me, saving 4+% of income on your taxes by saying you live in the Hamptons is a pretty attractive incentive.
2
Taxing the rich IS the answer, because they will feel it less than the poor.
And they can afford a small tax to keep the subway moving.
And they will appreciate their maids, nanny's, cooks, doormen, and other service people being able to find their way into the city for work on time.
And they can afford a small tax to keep the subway moving.
And they will appreciate their maids, nanny's, cooks, doormen, and other service people being able to find their way into the city for work on time.
3
This problem is arguably less about money and more about changing the way MTA agencies are set up and managed internally. They have not adapted to the changes in the ways of business and as such are wholly inefficient. When was the last time any of these any agecies were looked at from a structural efficiency perspective? Employees are rewarded for the status quo. Change makers are discouraged to the point they eventually leave. All you have left are employees who are soldiers doing what a manager has told them to do, good or bad. Independent thought is highly discouraged. It's no wonder the subways are such a mess. While money may be part of the issue, the agency as a whole needs to be revitalized and come into the 21st century, embracing employees who can and will make the changes necessary to make the subways the gold standard that they should be.
8
New York City's subway system represents many potential capacities that are totally underutilized. First, there are ways to create better franchise possibilities to sell needed items. That would involve developing malls that connected to the subways. These malls could obviously generate a lot of revenue, but they would not look like the shabby mall that long occupied in Penn Station, 34th Street. Second, components made for subways involve billions of dollars, yet much of this wealth is outsourced to foreign or non-New York State companies. This is clearly illogical. The wealth outsourced could help pay for subway development. Frank Barbaro, the late politician, and the TWU championed such manufacturing possibilities. Third, New York City loses billions because it supports the U.S. military budget with taxes that don't service New York City very much. Senator Moynihan and Seymour Melman long raised this issue which politicians have buried. Fourth, preventative maintenance and new technologies can increase throughput time for subways, but that requires money and a greater innovation focus. Yet, without necessary investment costs are generated. We need the mass media in New York State to organize a debate with academic experts, politicians, and policy makers on these questions, televised and linked to town meetings throughout the city. The other side of the subway side is a leadership vacuum. Unions like TWU and progressive City Council members can lead the way.
12
I recently read 3 solid proposals from a New Yorker about making the subway doors open and close independently instead of in unison with the others, about a tap style ticket turnstile instead of the card insert (Chicago has this), and about enter-exit turnstiles being separate. The writer seemed to believe these changes would make a huge difference in traffic/rider flow. I understood them because I take the trains in Chicago. Why not try them?
31
Chicago also charges HUGE parking fees (15$ an hour downtown.) Maybe all of Manhattan up to 125th should not have loads of free parking but charge for this privilege including the lots at public housing. Enough for the moochers already.
1
I ride NYC's subways all the time when I am in NYC, and because I work back and forth between Albany and NYC, and also travel elsewhere for work, I see all of the travel issues ... and it is beyond "no fun."
NYC is fundamentally broken in terms of its ability to sustain itself as a great city going forward. People the city needs will move away because the city is becoming too miserable. I will be retiring soon and going, combination of priced out and hassled out -- perhaps one can see my departure as "the natural order of things" given retirement ... but think about it, should it be?
NYC needs enormous infrastructure improvements to sustain itself, and these simply cannot be afforded unless the city can figure out how to accomplish them much more quickly and at much lower cost.
One short subway line in my lifetime. 18 miles of separated bike lanes a year. OK, it was the fat boy who created the Hudson river tunnel mess, but Indian Point is shutting down and neither DiBlasio or Cuomo have any plan to replace that no-CO2 power. Perpetual inability to provide one-seat fast rail service to LGA or JFK is now capped by truly bad joke of the LGA fix: a subway line that will be slower than the mess we have now. (And an enormous overhaul of LGA that doesn't fix its real problem: runways, instead being an excuse for more retail. You think NYC suffers for retail?)
And then the really big problems coming -- electric cars, and how do people charge them?
NYC is fundamentally broken in terms of its ability to sustain itself as a great city going forward. People the city needs will move away because the city is becoming too miserable. I will be retiring soon and going, combination of priced out and hassled out -- perhaps one can see my departure as "the natural order of things" given retirement ... but think about it, should it be?
NYC needs enormous infrastructure improvements to sustain itself, and these simply cannot be afforded unless the city can figure out how to accomplish them much more quickly and at much lower cost.
One short subway line in my lifetime. 18 miles of separated bike lanes a year. OK, it was the fat boy who created the Hudson river tunnel mess, but Indian Point is shutting down and neither DiBlasio or Cuomo have any plan to replace that no-CO2 power. Perpetual inability to provide one-seat fast rail service to LGA or JFK is now capped by truly bad joke of the LGA fix: a subway line that will be slower than the mess we have now. (And an enormous overhaul of LGA that doesn't fix its real problem: runways, instead being an excuse for more retail. You think NYC suffers for retail?)
And then the really big problems coming -- electric cars, and how do people charge them?
56
But NYC will always be a draw to young people starting careers. They'll stay for awhile, then move on to geographical greener pastures. Then a new wave will arrive. It's a cycle, and that's how it will sustain itself.
1
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another...
I lived in NYC for 20 years and always hated the antagonism that existed between "upstaters" and city people. NYC residents get less benefits for the money they pay in state taxes than people in the smaller cities and towns elsewhere in the state, yet it's always a battle with representatives in the Legislature (who don't live, work in or visit the city) that refuse to commit money to repair the infrastructure of the economic engine that pays for their pothole repairs.
So, maybe it's time that New York City dwellers give some thought to Jefferson's text and consider "dissolving the bonds" between the city and the state. Keep all of the state tax revenues generated in NYC and use it to pay for the services and repairs that are needed!
I lived in NYC for 20 years and always hated the antagonism that existed between "upstaters" and city people. NYC residents get less benefits for the money they pay in state taxes than people in the smaller cities and towns elsewhere in the state, yet it's always a battle with representatives in the Legislature (who don't live, work in or visit the city) that refuse to commit money to repair the infrastructure of the economic engine that pays for their pothole repairs.
So, maybe it's time that New York City dwellers give some thought to Jefferson's text and consider "dissolving the bonds" between the city and the state. Keep all of the state tax revenues generated in NYC and use it to pay for the services and repairs that are needed!
82
Statehood for NYC is long overdue. The present State of New York is a disfunctional colonial relic.
1
Unfortunately, the tie that binds NYC with upstate New York is water. Upstate has it, NYC needs it. If we don't play ball, they shut off our water.
1
Impractical and impossible. All of NYC's water comes from upstate. Tens of millions of people commute from neighboring counties to work in the city.
1
Besides comparing the time and expense of building new lines/stations in New York with the same effort in other world cities, it would also be educational to compare passenger fares in NYC with those of such other places. Is it true, as has been claimed, that NY fares are far lower than those in other leading cities?
2
NYC falls somewhere in the middle of transit fares for major cities.
Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Paris are cheaper.
London is far more expensive (and EXPANDING!).
Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Paris are cheaper.
London is far more expensive (and EXPANDING!).
5
Always nice to provide for the super rich (whose stock goes up when the transit systems put in capital projects) at the expensive of those who use the system.
1
Many cities charge fares based on distance. I have heard estimates that London is about twice as expensive as NYC.
3