TheHat Posted February 12, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 12, 2009 LET"S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLE! Westchester County’s Transportation Commissioner Lawrence Salley will say that Westchester opposes a plan that calls for the MTA to operate the county’s Bee-Line Bus System tomorrow when he speaks at a forum sponsored by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and Regional Plan Association. Salley is scheduled to speak before the regional transportation planning group at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 13, at the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle. “Consolidation into a Regional Bus Authority will cost Westchester taxpayers more and give our riders less,’’ said Salley. “We agree with many of the points in the Ravitch Commission report: that there should be more resources for bus services outside New York City and that those services should be better coordinated. We already share services with the MTA such as the MetroCard fare collection system and inter-system transfers. But consolidation of services will not be cheaper, nor will it be more efficient, and it certainly won’t be in the best interest of Westchester riders.’’ Salley said that contrary to some interpretations, the county does not believe that the Ravitch Commission Report calls for mandatory consolidation of local bus services into a single operating agency. He also disputed claims that there is feuding between counties over transportation funding and that a Regional Bus Authority would solve this problem as well as result in a more efficient and modern bus system. “Our system is better maintained, our fleet newer and our buses more technologically and environmentally advanced than those run by the MTA,’’ said Salley. “As far as feuding with other counties over funding, that is just not true. Westchester simply wants parity with Nassau when it comes to funding its bus system.’’ The Bee-Line Bus System, with 32 million riders annually, has 66 bus routes from The Bronx to Putnam County line as well as an express service to lower Manhattan. Salley said the county is not philosophically opposed to most of the recommendations made in the Ravitch commission report, which advocates for better coordination and more funding for regional systems. “We just do not believe that eliminating local control is in the best interest of our riders or that the MTA can operate a local system more efficiently or cost effectively that we can,’’ said Salley. To underscore his argument, Salley made the following points: * Westchester already shares services with the MTA and could expand those to include other areas such as joint procurement of buses and other equipment. * MTA operation would be less efficient and data indicates that costs would rise with consolidation. In 2007, the Bee-Line’s cost per mile was $9.80, the lowest among Metropolitan Area operators (Bee-Line, MTA Bus, Long Island Bus and NYCTA). In the three years following the 2006 MTA takeover of seven New York City private bus operators, the combined operating deficit rose from $223 million a year to a projected $341 million for 2009. * Safety would be potentially compromised since the MTA is not required to meet higher safety standards required by the NYS Department of Transportation. Bee-line has ranked number one in the metropolitan area in maintenance and employee safety training. * A regional bus system would hamper Westchester’s ability to use buses to help evacuate residents in the event of a natural or man-made disaster such as an incident at the Indian Point Nuclear Power plant. Source: Yonkers Tribune I'd say that's a smackdown. Do SMEEEEEL what the Bee-line is cookin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHat Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted February 12, 2009 The demons ()have been exerscised, this house is clear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulated450 Posted February 12, 2009 Share #3 Posted February 12, 2009 wait beeline is going to be beeline still though right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHat Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted February 12, 2009 Yes, Articulated there is still a bee-line(NYCT) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulated450 Posted February 12, 2009 Share #5 Posted February 12, 2009 oh yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Posted February 12, 2009 Share #6 Posted February 12, 2009 This is probably the best move they (WCDOT) can do at this moment. Fight it and stay separate. I think the MTA is trying to take on more than it can chew right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulated450 Posted February 12, 2009 Share #7 Posted February 12, 2009 yea i want beeline to stay with it self me as an operator like how things are going and what i think is they dont need beelines doing fine.beeline will fight to the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHat Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted February 12, 2009 Based on the Commissioners' statement that is what's gonna' happen. An absoulte knock down drag out fight, and the WCDOT laid the first smack down. IMO this is directly related to the cost related to MetroCard useage and the rise in ridership, but loss of revenue to the transfers(NYCT) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamousNYLover Posted February 13, 2009 Share #9 Posted February 13, 2009 I agree should not take over Bee-Line bus. Even thought Bee-Line bus is late, but it is still fast compare to . Bee-Line buses has more room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted February 13, 2009 Share #10 Posted February 13, 2009 I think having control more transit equals more possible layoffs & service cuts. I agree with 100%. Don't over-reach. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOB2RTO Posted February 15, 2009 Share #11 Posted February 15, 2009 “Our system is better maintained, our fleet newer and our buses more technologically and environmentally advanced than those run by the MTA,’’ said Salley." "* Safety would be potentially compromised since the MTA is not required to meet higher safety standards required by the NYS Department of Transportation. Bee-line has ranked number one in the metropolitan area in maintenance and employee safety training." The truth has been spoken. Rusted, beaten down, half a$$ maintained, = MTA. MTA's bed buddy is duct tape you know. Seat ripped? Tape it up, window swinging? Tape it closed. Panel swinging? Tape it closed. Horn cover missing? tape it back on. Farebox door open? Tape it closed. Tape it, Tape it, Tape it. As for safety, well just look at the dented buses. You have more than not. MTA needs to look to Liberty Lines on how to train drivers, instead of thinking because of their size, they are all that. I wonder how much does it cost MTA to fix their dented buses? Must be a staggering amount, since most just go dented, and unpainted till they rust......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engineerboy6561 Posted April 27, 2009 Share #12 Posted April 27, 2009 Personally, I think that the has a hard enough time managing what it already has. Billions pissed away in Irish banks and we still have backed-up subways on Lexington Avenue and a good chunk of the B division, a giant hole in the ground where SAS was supposed to be, a half-dead bus fleet that barely manages to limp along, all the while spitting, screeching, clunking, and generally falling apart at the seams, and soon massive service cuts and a fare hike. I personally think this idea of taking over Bee-Line is simply a Ponzi scheme. The idea is that the MTA will absorb other agencies, live good off the increased revenue, run it into the ground, and then buy a new one when quality and revenue fall to the MTA average. Before the takes on ANY new service providers, it needs a top-to-bottom house cleaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOB2RTO Posted April 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted April 28, 2009 Personally, I think that the has a hard enough time managing what it already has. Billions pissed away in Irish banks and we still have backed-up subways on Lexington Avenue and a good chunk of the B division, a giant hole in the ground where SAS was supposed to be, a half-dead bus fleet that barely manages to limp along, all the while spitting, screeching, clunking, and generally falling apart at the seams, and soon massive service cuts and a fare hike. I personally think this idea of taking over Bee-Line is simply a Ponzi scheme. The idea is that the MTA will absorb other agencies, live good off the increased revenue, run it into the ground, and then buy a new one when quality and revenue fall to the MTA average. Before the takes on ANY new service providers, it needs a top-to-bottom house cleaning. MTA needs to be dissolved altogether. It is one big bureaucratic mess, and no one knows what they are doing. The takeover of the private lines, was MTA's big downfall, IMO......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amtrak7 Posted May 3, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 3, 2009 Would Bee-Line adapt the doomsday fare scenario? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bracamonte Posted May 4, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 4, 2009 MTA needs to be dissolved altogether. It is one big bureaucratic mess, and no one knows what they are doing. The takeover of the private lines, was MTA's big downfall, IMO......... What do you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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