Is bus deal a train wreck?

The Island Now

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced last week that the county had selected Veolia Transportation, a company based in France, to operate the Long Island Bus starting in January. He’s excited about the deal that he says will cost the county $106 million. That’s less than the current budget of $141 million.

“A public-private partnership to operate Long Island Bus makes sense for taxpayers,” Mangano said. “The steps we take today will protect riders and ensure bus service continues into the future.”

Not everyone shares his excitement.

Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) isn’t happy that the contract will not come before the county Legislature until the last minute. He says there will not be enough time for the Legislature to properly vet and amend the contract. This is a trick that is often used to push through controversial legislation.

If the Democrats want to scrutinize and debate the contract, they will be accused of torpedoing a plan that could keep the buses running.

“This is a train wreck that quite frankly has been a year in the making,” Wink said. “The only way I can see this working out is if Veolia has a greater heart than this administration.”

Mangano promised that fares will not go up, not right away at least. He promised routes and fares would be remain stable for at least a year. The plan proposed by the MTA would have cost Nassau an additional $9 million with a 56 percent reduction in routes.

If Veolia, a private company, takes over the Long Island Buses, riders will no longer be able to use the MTA MetroCard. Commuters taking the bus to the city will no longer have a card that will give them free transfers to city subways and city buses. If Mangano has a solution for this problem, we have yet to see it.

Three things in particular are cause for concern: First, this deal was hammered out in a back room with no public input and no input from Democrat legislators. Why? Wouldn’t it have made sense to have bipartisan discussion?

Second we are not comfortable with the fact that a company from France has been chosen to operate buses that for years were run by the MTA. Will riders have to write to Paris if they have a complaint? Wasn’t there an American company that could run these buses?

If a French company get this contract, it’s only fair that SMG, the company that manages the Nassau Coliseum, should get the contract to manage the Eifel Tower.

Third and most serious, Veolia is only committing to keep bus fare at the current rate and to serve the existing routes for one year. What happens after that?

What about the contracts with the drivers and other personnel?

Veolia operates transit systems in a number of American cities. In Phoenix, the company racked up approximately $3.3 million in fines in three months.

It may be that this is the best possible solution for the Long Island bus riders. But because the negotiations took place behind closed doors, you’ll have to take Mangano’s word for it.

A Blank Slate Media Editorial

Share this Article