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Help Fix Transit, Mr. de Blasio, and Be a Hero Help Fix Transit, Mr. de Blasio, and Be a Hero
(about 9 hours later)
Even though the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been around for half a century and is under the governor’s control, many New Yorkers labor under the misconception that the mayor runs the city’s subways and buses. When things go wrong, as they routinely do these days, he’s the one often criticized. So perhaps he (and the City Council) might try harder to earn some credit to balance out the blame, by doing more for mass transit. After all, the people most affected are the mayor’s constituents.Even though the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been around for half a century and is under the governor’s control, many New Yorkers labor under the misconception that the mayor runs the city’s subways and buses. When things go wrong, as they routinely do these days, he’s the one often criticized. So perhaps he (and the City Council) might try harder to earn some credit to balance out the blame, by doing more for mass transit. After all, the people most affected are the mayor’s constituents.
What’s needed from him are money and political will.What’s needed from him are money and political will.
To his credit, Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed in 2015 to substantially increase the city’s contribution to the M.T.A.’s $29 billion five-year capital plan to $2.5 billion. For far too long, under several mayors, City Hall was unconscionably stingy, providing as little as $100 million or so a year to capital spending on infrastructure maintenance and improvement. As a coalition of mass transit advocacy groups observed last week, the need to secure that $2.5 billion, and perhaps even enhance it, is urgent.To his credit, Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed in 2015 to substantially increase the city’s contribution to the M.T.A.’s $29 billion five-year capital plan to $2.5 billion. For far too long, under several mayors, City Hall was unconscionably stingy, providing as little as $100 million or so a year to capital spending on infrastructure maintenance and improvement. As a coalition of mass transit advocacy groups observed last week, the need to secure that $2.5 billion, and perhaps even enhance it, is urgent.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has pledged an extra $1 billion in capital funds next year, on top of his previous pledge of $8.3 billion, but where that new billion will come from is unclear. And counting on help from the Republican-dominated federal government seems pointless. So Mr. de Blasio needs to step up.Gov. Andrew Cuomo has pledged an extra $1 billion in capital funds next year, on top of his previous pledge of $8.3 billion, but where that new billion will come from is unclear. And counting on help from the Republican-dominated federal government seems pointless. So Mr. de Blasio needs to step up.
“He should do more because it’s his city,” said Gene Russianoff, a longtime leader of one of the advocacy groups, the Straphangers Campaign. The mayor could, for instance, designate a portion of property tax collections for mass transit, notably taxes paid by businesses; they have a big stake in getting their employees to work on time.“He should do more because it’s his city,” said Gene Russianoff, a longtime leader of one of the advocacy groups, the Straphangers Campaign. The mayor could, for instance, designate a portion of property tax collections for mass transit, notably taxes paid by businesses; they have a big stake in getting their employees to work on time.
The subways understandably get the bulk of New Yorkers’ attention, but the bus network also cries out for stronger municipal action. Too often, it is treated as the system’s stepchild. Ridership has slipped in recent years. Nonetheless, buses carry more than two million passengers on a typical weekday. That number could grow, and maybe help ease subway overcrowding, if service was made speedier and more dependable.The subways understandably get the bulk of New Yorkers’ attention, but the bus network also cries out for stronger municipal action. Too often, it is treated as the system’s stepchild. Ridership has slipped in recent years. Nonetheless, buses carry more than two million passengers on a typical weekday. That number could grow, and maybe help ease subway overcrowding, if service was made speedier and more dependable.
One solution is to accelerate the planned expansion of Select Bus Service, a proven winner already in place on 13 routes, cutting travel time by a variety of means. Another is to designate more dedicated bus lanes, and to do so with true dedication. That means a sustained crackdown on intruding cars and trucks. A show of strength by the police on well-trafficked corridors might make a more lasting impression on motorists than do the cameras in place to catch violators. The city could also get serious about using technology that can turn traffic signals to green for buses only.One solution is to accelerate the planned expansion of Select Bus Service, a proven winner already in place on 13 routes, cutting travel time by a variety of means. Another is to designate more dedicated bus lanes, and to do so with true dedication. That means a sustained crackdown on intruding cars and trucks. A show of strength by the police on well-trafficked corridors might make a more lasting impression on motorists than do the cameras in place to catch violators. The city could also get serious about using technology that can turn traffic signals to green for buses only.
On all counts, M.T.A. cooperation is, of course, essential, but the heavier burden to make streets friendlier for mass transit falls on city government. That’s where political will comes in. The same goes, to some extent, for the subways.On all counts, M.T.A. cooperation is, of course, essential, but the heavier burden to make streets friendlier for mass transit falls on city government. That’s where political will comes in. The same goes, to some extent, for the subways.
It might help if Mr. de Blasio called more attention to the mass transit crisis — he didn’t even show up when an A train detailed last month — and if he demonstrated his seriousness by taking public transportation himself. In the main, he has been a non-presence underground. When some political and editorial critics suggested last month that, as someone concerned about climate change, he might give his S.U.V. a rest, an annoyed mayor gave the back of his hand to what he called “cheap symbolism.” It might help if Mr. de Blasio called more attention to the mass transit crisis — he didn’t even show up when an A train derailed last month — and if he demonstrated his seriousness by taking public transportation himself. In the main, he has been a non-presence underground. When some political and editorial critics suggested last month that, as someone concerned about climate change, he might give his S.U.V. a rest, an annoyed mayor gave the back of his hand to what he called “cheap symbolism.”
Leadership, however, includes demonstrating to followers that you grasp from experience what they endure every day. For the symbol-minded among us, there’s nothing cheap about it.Leadership, however, includes demonstrating to followers that you grasp from experience what they endure every day. For the symbol-minded among us, there’s nothing cheap about it.