Printer Friendly Format Email a Friend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 496-08
December 21, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO STOP DISPROPORTIONATE FARE INCREASE FOR EXPRESS BUS RIDERS IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg’s weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, December 21, 2008

"Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"Transit riders with the fewest options often get hurt the most at times like these, when service cuts and fare increases are on the horizon. We've done something to prevent that, by taking steps to protect the more than 360,000 New Yorkers who rely on the express buses operated by the State-controlled Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"When the MTA management proposed its budget for 2009 last week, it included a fare increase for express bus riders that was out of all proportion to the increases that other transit riders may face. Currently, a seat on an express bus costs $5 each way. MTA management had proposed raising that fare to $7.50, a 50% jump.

"But for many riders in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, express buses are their only sensible choice for getting to Manhattan to work or shop. Express buses serve communities where using other existing mass transit options is impractical if not downright impossible. And we certainly don't want express bus riders to commute by car instead. Not only would that be expensive, aggravating, and time-consuming for them; it also would increase congestion, parking problems, and pollution for everyone else.

"For those reasons, the City's representatives on the MTA board objected strenuously to this inequitable fare increase for riding express buses - and by getting it taken off the table, we chalked one up for both evenhandedness and common sense.

"We all recognize that like every other government agency, the MTA is being hammered by the continuing economic downturn. Its proposed budget for 2009 includes both significant cuts in transit service and also an overall increase of 23% in what it takes in from fares and tolls, all of which could go into effect next spring.

"I believe that going ahead with this plan would be a big mistake. Instead, state leaders need to help balance the MTA's operating budget without resorting to these draconian steps, and also create a funding stream that will allow the MTA to keep the existing system in good repair while expanding transit service for our growing city. That's essential if we're going to avoid the kind of near-collapse of transit service that New Yorkers suffered during the 1970s.

"If state leaders act promptly and wisely, I'm hoping that the MTA can keep fares and tolls reasonable enough so that they won't bust family budgets. We've also got to ensure that transit fares are fair, especially for New Yorkers whose transportation choices are limited. So we'll keep doing everything we can to make sure that express bus riders - the daily commuters with the worst transit options in the city - are the last ones to see their costs go up.

"This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser   (212) 788-2958




More Resources