Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Borough President Molinaro presents testimony regarding proposed fare and toll hikes by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Thank you for this opportunity to speak on this very important issue. After 20 years of public service, I have to tell the panel that, standing here tonight, I am overcome with a sense of déjà vu.
After all, every few years, the MTA comes to Staten Island and pitches the idea of toll and fare increases.
We are told it is necessary for the MTA bottom line. Staten Island is assured that we will actually benefit from the funds this toll increase will create. And finally, we are told that residents will hardly feel the difference. It is only a matter of a few cents.
Well, I am here tonight to tell you loud and clear that Staten Island has heard it all before - we didn’t buy it then and we sure aren’t buying it now.
It is actually insulting to ask the residents of Staten Island to accept this increase. After all:
* We have the worst commute times in the Nation
* We are among the highest tolled areas in the Nation
* We have the most inadequate, antiquated and slowest mass transit systems in the City
* And we are the only Borough whose residents have no choice but to pay to come home.
And for each of these dubious distinctions, you now want us to pay more.
Today, Staten Island stands on the brink of total commuting gridlock. With only 5% of the City’s population, we are home to 18% of all the registered vehicles. This number is especially sobering considering this percentage does not account for all of the unregistered vehicles illegally flooding our streets bearing licenses from PA, FL, NC and other states.
Our Island is one of the fastest growing counties in the State and, simply stated, our rural roadways can not handle the current traffic burden. This is clear, as large portions of our local roads and expressways gridlock every day.
Given the overwhelming need, one would reasonably assume that Staten Island would be the perfect setting for a state-of-the art mass transit system.
Instead what do we have to show for all of our tolls? We have 50 year old bus routes, a single train track and a 100 year old ferry system.
And for this level of disservice, we pay through the nose. In fact, according to the Federal Transit Administration, New York City subway and bus riders subsidize mass transit more than any other region of the Country.
If you look around our Island, there is no shortage of mass transportation opportunities the MTA could be supporting. For example, the North Shore passenger rail system is intact and just waiting for reactivation. A West Shore Light Rail is also a possibility whose time is at hand. We could certainly use more express buses on all the existing lines, as well as the creation of new lines throughout the Island. The third bus depot is a must and in fact, a fourth bus depot needs to be constructed just to meet current bus service demands.
However, Staten Island, the community with the greatest need, is constantly being denied these critical transit improvements because we are told the MTA lacks the capital to create them.
This denial comes despite the fact that the Verrazano Narrows Bridge accounts for 22% of the entire revenue collected by the MTA bridges and tunnels. The MTA’s constant money woes are also puzzling considering that since my tenure at Borough Hall began in 1990, we have seen bus fares skyrocket 33% while riders have increased a staggering 50%. With more riders paying higher prices, the MTA should have plenty of cash.
This lack of funding for local transit improvements is especially hard to stomach when our commuters are forced to endure 4 hours of daily commute time, while the Second Avenue subway is now undergoing a $ 7 billion enhancement; an enhancement, by the way, which will save riders a mere two block walk.
Staten Island bus riders certainly have to walk further than two blocks just to reach their stop; a stop that, more often than not, lacks shelter or even a platform on which to wait.
I am hear tonight to tell you - no way, no how will Staten Island support this increase. We must have no toll hikes and no increase in the Staten Island resident discount.
Staten Island has heard the MTA’s empty promises for years. And look where they have brought us.
December 13, 2007