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Guest Post by Assm. Joe Lentol on MTA Situation

Assemblyman Joe Lentol Responds to MTA's Vote on Fare Hikes

I, like you, am extremely upset that the mass transit situation in New York City has gotten to this dire point. I want my constituents and neighbors to know that I have been doing everything in my power to save the subway system including regular dialogues with MTA Chair Eliot Sander and with the architect of the bailout plan Richard Ravitch. I have even brought Mr. Ravitch into our neighborhoods to ride the G train so he could experience the G train's shortcomings for himself. I have emphasized the importance of the B48 and the B24 to both the MTA and Mr. Ravitch. I have discussed many times how important it is to keep fares low and trains and buses running regularly, in order to keep this city and working families afloat. New York City is the engine of the state, and the transit system is the engine of the New York City. We cannot let the MTA go under.

So most importantly, I have supported the bailout plan put forth by the Assembly and supported by the MTA. The Assembly plan would keep the transit system running, keep fares low, prevent service cuts to buses and subways and adequately fund the MTA capital plan. While it does put tolls on the bridges it keeps them low, $2.00, the same as a subway ride. This plan has been supported by many of our city newspapers' editorial boards and transportation advocacy groups. I understand how absolutely vital affordable subway and bus transportation is to Brooklyn families. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure that New Yorkers continue to have access to this essential resource.

I want to assure you that the clock has not yet run out. The fare increase is not scheduled to take effect until the end of May. While there is absolutely no excuse for letting it get this far, time has not run out, there is still time to save the system. There is still time for others in government to come around and accept the Assembly's plan or for us to forge a new plan if that is what it takes. I will do whatever necessary to assist with this up in Albany. In the meantime I want to encourage you to make your voices heard. Everyone, at all levels of government, needs to understand, as many of us already do, just how important this is to New Yorkers. Together we can make sure that the subway and buses get the help they need, just in time.

-Assemblymember Joseph R. Lentol

It's Not Your Imagination, There's More People on the L Train

According to a recent New York Times article, the number of rides in 2008 on New York City Transit increased 3.1% from 2007. 2.37 billion rides on city buses and subways were recorded in 2008, a record high since 1965.

The L subway line experienced the highest weekday ridership increase of 8.5% since 2007, more than double the citywide increase. Since 2003, the number of rides on the L line have risen 29% and a whopping 79% since 1998.

Our growing neighborhoods continue to depend on public transit; we need more service, not less. Read our letter to the MTA here, and join our fight for better transit in North Brooklyn by emailing transportation -at- nag-brooklyn -dot- org.

update: The L train will be a robo-train starting Tuesday, but not during the rush hour, so it won't solve the problem in the near term.

Photo by Ken Stein, via creative commons license

L Train Sees Some Improvements, But Less on Time Than Last Year

Despite the L Train getting the highest rating from Straphangers (using MTA data) in July and some improvements last year in the Driggs entrance of the Bedford L station, recent data published in a NYT article shows that the L Train is more late this year than last year. The good news is that the L Train is less late over the summer, but let's see how it does this fall as the crush of students returns.

If the morning crush on the L Train doesn't give you the kind of physical contact you're seeking from your commute, or if you are feeling like you're always waiting for the G Train, come to our town hall organizing meeting Oct 2!

Graph from NY Times, 2008.