For very different reasons, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Democratic county legislators expressed regret Wednesday over the unanimous MTA vote on April 27 to sever ties with Nassau County for bus service.
“It’s a sad day in American when a government agency such as the MTA chooses to maintain its bloated bureaucracy over the services it is charged to provide its residents,” Mangano said in a statement. “Because the MTA has failed taxpayers time and time again, Nassau County will move forward with a public-private partnership that maintains bus service without demanding an additional $26 million from taxpayers. My actions stop the MTA from further subsidizing NYC’s transportation system with Nassau tax dollars. MTA’s monopoly over transportation in Nassau County ends now.”
In announcing the vote, MTA officials said they could no longer afford $26 million in subsidies for Long Island Bus.
“Today’s vote ratifies Nassau County’s desire to terminate the service agreement with the MTA and privatize the operations of Long Island Bus,” said MTA Spokesman Aaron Donovan.
Nassau County had been paying the MTA $9.1 million to operate Long Island Bus. But the financially troubled transit agency said the county would needed to increase its contribution, but the county declined.
A deal announced on April 1 funds the system until January 2012 with a $8.2 million subsidy from the state Senate, in addition to $52.4 million in the 2011-2012 state budget.
The system would be privatized after the MTA contract ends on Dec. 31, according to a plan by Mangano.
Mangano has said a private vendor could run Long Island Bus for less money and put out a request for proposal.
Nassau County officials received three bids from private vendors to run Long Island Bus by the March 21. Bids are being evaluated by a committee of unnamed county employees whose members will meet in private to render a recommendation to Mangano, who will make a decision during the first week in May. The move will require approval from the county Legislature.
Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) said he hopes that the MTA will come back to the negotiating table before the end of the year, or a real alternative can be found for mass transit.
“Its very disheartening for the 100,000 people who rely on Long Island bus to get to home, work, and every other major place,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate for them, but quite frankly I feel it was inevitable given the very hostile tone the county executive took when negotiating with the MTA.”
Privatization could result in loss of service, said Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck).
“They can promise something that seems great the first year, and then its not profitable so they can’t do that,” she said. “There was privatization many years ago, which is why the MTA took over Long Island bus [in 1973]. This didn’t just happen in a vacuum. It didn’t work.”
Privatization will cost more money for less service, said TWU Local 252 President Patricia Bowden in a statement.
“Privatization is going to sock Nassau taxpayers with higher costs, clog our roads, and cut our bus service,” she said. “Our members are proud to join the fight for quality mass transportation, clean air, and responsible spending in Nassau County.”
