Jump to content

Please Dad, save my bus! MTA honcho's daughter blasts plan to cut two Queens routes o


Trainspotter

Recommended Posts

MTA chief Elliot Sander has one more irate straphanger to contend with - his daughter.

 

Sander's 15-year-old daughter, Bria, is giving him flak about doomsday budget plans that would whack weekend bus service on the Q76 and Q79 routes in Queens.

 

The teen uses the routes on Saturdays to get to school plays, test prep classes and, of course, to meet friends and go shopping.

 

"I told him he shouldn't do it," Bria told the Daily News Thursday.

 

Sander, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's chief executive officer and top target for riders' wrath, tries to explain he doesn't want to reduce service.

 

Cuts will be necessary if the state Legislature doesn't bail out the bus, subway and commuter train system, he argues.

 

The authority is legally required to have a balanced budget; it has massive budget gaps, he explains.

 

"Whatever," Bria said with a note of jest. "He should just get the money for it. It's a big commuter system. It's cheap and it's good for the environment to ride the bus."

 

After dad made his pitch again in the telephone interview, the youngster took a more serious tone.

 

"The Legislature and governor should think about students who have to go to things on weekends," she said.

 

[float=right]amd_sander.jpg

Lee Sander

Smith for News[/float]"They should think about people who take the bus and consider how many people are going to be upset because some things are going to be shut down."

 

Bria hasn't heard other kids gripe about the bus cuts, but it's not uncommon for other teens to come up to her and pepper her with instructions for dad.

 

She has a teen-worthy contingency plan if the Legislature fails to come to the rescue.

 

"My parents will have to drive me," she said.

 

If Bria signs up with the Straphangers Campaign, the leading rider advocacy group, Sander and his wife have no one to blame but themselves.

 

"We encouraged her to take public transportation because it's a really convenient and environmentally friendly way to travel, and she has enjoyed it," Sander said.

 

Riders on Q76 and Q79 buses shared Bria's gripe about the potential service cuts.

 

"This is a lifeline," Nick Hendi, 29, an analyst heading home from work on the Q79 said. "You need it. One day gas prices are going to go back up."

 

On the Q76, Yvonne Stamford, 53, said she takes the bus on Saturdays to go shopping and her daughter rides it on her way to dance classes in Manhattan.

 

"Oh, my gosh," she said. "This isn't good. We're going to be stuck on Saturdays. We really like taking this bus. It's much more convenient."

 

The Q76 and Q79 are among the nearly 40 routes that could lose weekend service.

 

Some subway and commuter train service also would be reduced, while the W and Z subway lines would cease to exist.

 

A state commission has recommended a payroll tax on businesses and tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges. That would gross $2.5 billion annually.

 

An Albany rescue would mean the MTA could scale back to 8% fare and toll hikes set for June, transit officials have said.

 

Otherwise, fare and toll revenue would need to grow by 23%, which would mean individual fares rising between 25% and 30%, officials have said.

 

A bailout also would allow the MTA to cancel service cuts, bringing Sander some measure of peace - at least at home.

 

BY PETE DONOHUE

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

January 9th 2009

post-5-133288580207_thumb.jpg

post-5-133288580207_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Well I don't believe this thing for one bit. She will get a car from daddy because he's rich soon or atleast she will get someone other than her dad to drive her there and end of story. Besides even if she gets those routes back there are countless others that are clearly more in need but are marked for elimination. In my opinion after taking the 76 for 4 years straight. I think the only time ridership was big were probably during school time. I don't know I just don't like this article :) for some reason. I think it may be the fact that her father is the head of the (MTA) and therefore she probably lives a good life (in terms of cash) and probably has whatever she wants accessible to her while your average rider doesn't.

 

Rant Over :deadhorse:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like one brat of a kid, daddy don't do this, daddy don't do this, daddy I want this...jeez.

 

I would lol epic if this kid will ever do a day of work in her life.

 

However, the truth is that many areas would completely lose all service on weekends if the cuts went through...what I am surprised is why routes such as the Q14 aren't proposed for elimination (route would be merged with the Q34).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Um, as much as I agree with keeping the Q76 weekend (not so much Q79), it doesn't run on Sundays in the first place, and her motives are extremely selfish. The idea that I frequently take the Q76 disturbs me now that I think that I could run into this cry-baby.

 

Waste of an article.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like one brat of a kid, daddy don't do this, daddy don't do this, daddy I want this...jeez.

 

I would lol epic if this kid will ever do a day of work in her life.

 

100% Agreed. She won't have to worry about work or commuting

 

 

Um, as much as I agree with keeping the Q76 weekend (not so much Q79), it doesn't run on Sundays in the first place, and her motives are extremely selfish. The idea that I frequently take the Q76 disturbs me now that I think that I could run into this cry-baby.

 

Waste of an article.

 

Exactly :tup: but you probably won't see this cry baby since she's probably going to get a limo escort courtesy of the (MTA), who knows.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just a rant

 

I do not agree with any of you guys here. If she was spoiled where she would get a car and driven everywhere she wouldnt be voicing her opinion about two bus routes being eliminated. I admire her for standing up against her fathers contraversial plans, when most kids her position would not have the guts to do so.

 

I am sure if the MTA were to cut any of your local transit services that you use frequently, you probably wouldn't be that happy nor will you be saying any of those things or even appriciate if those comments that were directed at you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just a rant

 

I do not agree with any of you guys here. If she was spoiled where she would get a car and driven everywhere she wouldnt be voicing her opinion about two bus routes being eliminated. I admire her for standing up against her fathers contraversial plans, when most kids her position would not have the guts to do so.

 

I am sure if the MTA were to cut any of your local transit services that you use frequently, you probably wouldn't be that happy nor will you be saying any of those things or even appriciate if those comments that were directed at you.

 

 

Well of course we wouldn't want our lines to be cut, but she is being selfish, saying who gives a **** about the other lines, just save the 76 and 79 because I use them. If it was some other line being cut that she used, she'd probably complain about that too. The Q79 is hopeless, scrap it already, the Q76 needs work to be done on it, its wait times are crazy and its jam packed full of stupid Suburban 1993 Orion Vs. Casey Stengel does not give less of a damn about their JAMAICA routes. Ive waited OVER THREE HOURS for a Q31 at 9 in the morning with no disruptions in the route or anything. THREE HOURS for a bus!!!!

But what the hell is she even talking about, the 76/79 dont even have SUNDAY service, why isnt she complaining about that too???? I already face no Sunday service, Ive walked from Hillside to Northern boulevard along francis lewis!!!Multiple times because the Q76 wasnt running!!! GO get daddy to get a car service from his $300k salary!!!

If these lines (and maybe a few others to cover it up) end up staying and the others dont I will completely loose faith in the MTA. Morons dont know how to run it

 

And no I'm just randomly ranting I don't mean any of this to you bessarion

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well of course we wouldn't want our lines to be cut, but she is being selfish, saying who gives a **** about the other lines, just save the 76 and 79 because I use them. If it was some other line being cut that she used, she'd probably complain about that too. The Q79 is hopeless, scrap it already, the Q76 needs work to be done on it, its wait times are crazy and its jam packed full of stupid Suburban 1993 Orion Vs. Casey Stengel does not give less of a damn about their JAMAICA routes. Ive waited OVER THREE HOURS for a Q31 at 9 in the morning with no disruptions in the route or anything. THREE HOURS for a bus!!!!

But what the hell is she even talking about, the 76/79 dont even have SUNDAY service, why isnt she complaining about that too???? I already face no Sunday service, Ive walked from Hillside to Northern boulevard along francis lewis!!!Multiple times because the Q76 wasnt running!!! GO get daddy to get a car service from his $300k salary!!!

If these lines (and maybe a few others to cover it up) end up staying and the others dont I will completely loose faith in the MTA. Morons dont know how to run it

 

And no I'm just randomly ranting I don't mean any of this to you bessarion

Bingo, you are right on the money. And its not just the buses... when the service cuts come, it will mean subway service would be reduced significantly meaning longer headways on the trunk lines, meaning we have to wait longer, meaning we have to deal with crowds, so it all adds up. Whining to her dad about her 2 bus lines won't make a big difference for all of us. Her saving the entire system would be a big deal for all of us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just a rant

 

I do not agree with any of you guys here. If she was spoiled where she would get a car and driven everywhere she wouldnt be voicing her opinion about two bus routes being eliminated. I admire her for standing up against her fathers contraversial plans, when most kids her position would not have the guts to do so.

 

I am sure if the MTA were to cut any of your local transit services that you use frequently, you probably wouldn't be that happy nor will you be saying any of those things or even appriciate if those comments that were directed at you.

 

I have to respectfully disagree. She's 15 , a teenager...the age of rebellion (Trust me I know). Every teenager rebels (stands up to their parents) in some form so I wouldn't say she has a lot of guts. I'll give her a C for effort though. And the argument here is why argue for 2 bus routes which she just uses? Which is clearly selfish and these routes as previously discussed need some sort of change in terms of service times and lengths. If she really wanted to stand up, she'd also rebel against the countless other services being cut which are needed even more and the fare hike etc etc. Bessarion, everybody is angry at the service cuts including me but like I said she only singles out 2 bus routes to save just because she uses them even though there are other lines in the same situation. And as much as you don't think she won't have a car or escort, she will. If those services are taken away, I guarantee Mr. Sanders would now allow his daughter to walk or take train. For god sake her father makes 300K+ alone and he can care less about transit since he doesn't use it.

 

Rant #2 Over :tup:

B)

:deadhorse:

:rock:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know someone in my homeroom at Bronx Science who actually knows her in person. I hope Bria understands that it is not just herself who is suffering under the abuses of her father, it is all of us. Including her friends that are at my school. Her friends that may be hit with waves of unfair service cuts. And not just the students, it is everyone.

Everyone.

I hope she gets this message.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.