Aug 4, 2009 6:43 am US/Eastern
Re-Election Mode: Bloomberg Wants Transit Overhaul
With Polls Getting A Little Too Close For Comfort, Mayor Unveils Ambitious Plan For Getting Around NYC
Among Proposals: Free Bus Rides, Gateless Tolls, Red-Light Technology
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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If Mayor Bloomberg has it his way the New York City mass transit system will look and operate vastly different in the coming years.
CBS
Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for a total overhaul of New York City's mass transit system on Monday, saying it is antiquated, inefficient and wasteful.
The mayor proposed dozens of changes as part of the very first policy announcement of his re-election campaign.
With Democrat Bill Thompson coming closer in the polls, the curtain went up on Mayor Bloomberg's re-election campaign. And in Act 1 he's running against something that doesn't run very well in this town -- mass transit.
"No more excuses, no more delays. It's time for action," Bloomberg said.
Among the proposed innovations is a new bus rapid transit system on First and Second avenues. When the M-15 bus approaches a red light it will have technology to turn it green so it doesn't have to stop.
The mayor also wants gateless tolling on all MTA bridges and tunnels to end long delays.
"Most other places where they toll roads you just go through at 35 miles an hour. Here you have to come to a full stop and wait for the barrier to go up," Bloomberg said.
The mayor, who has only four votes on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, vowed to use his "bully pulpit" to:
* Reinstitute F-train express service
* Install countdown clocks throughout the system so you know when the next bus or subway is due
* Re-open existing Long Island Rail Road stations in Queens
* Expand Cityticket, which gives discounts for city riders on the LIRR and Metro-North
* Re-open the Staten Island North Shore rail line
* Put more livery cabs and commuter vans in underserved communities
* And make cross-town bus service on the M-50, M-42 and M-34 free.
"I'd be very surprised, but I think that would be terrific. We have very little public transportation on this side of town, so that would be great," said Silvia Mateosian of Manhattan.
When asked if that would make her vote for Bloomberg, Mateosian said, "Possibly. Possibly."
"Well, I like him. I think he's got a lot of good ideas," added Anthony Fiero of Manhattan.
The mayor said he can implement some of the ideas without the MTA, including new street cars in Brooklyn and Queens, and new ferry service. But Democratic opponent Thompson said some of these things are just empty promises.
The mayor charged the MTA is run inefficiently, but how is he going to pay for his big proposal?
He said you could:
* Save $50 million by combining the LIRR and Metro-North
* Make $50 million by selling the transit authority's old headquarters in Brooklyn
* Save many tens of millions by enforcing a labor agreement to make union workers pay 2 percent of their salary for health benefits
The MTA issued a statement saying it welcomes the mayor's input and looks "forward to working with him and other elected officials in finding ways to make the MTA more efficient."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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