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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Vacca Decries Transit Funds "Sweep"

Bronx Councilman James Vacca sent a letter to Albany earlier this week, demanding that Gov. Paterson and other leaders steer clear of using dedicated public transit funds to help close the state's $315 million budget deficit.

Last year, a similarly cash-strapped Albany diverted money--$143 million--from taxes earmarked for the MTA into the state's general fund to close its budget gap. The shortfall put the already financially unstable MTA in an even worse position; service on bus and subway lines across the city were slashed, to the outrage of riders.

For the coming year, the MTA has already proposed a new round of service cuts and a 7.5 percent fare increase. Transportation advocates, and Vacca, worry that another "raid" on transit taxes will mean even more crowded trains, and longer waits for the bus.

"New York City cannot survive without a vibrant mass transit system, and our mass transit system cannot survive without a stable source of funding," the letter states. Read the rest below.

Vacca is the chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee.
2010.11.08 MTA Funding

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