Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro urges Nassau County to pay its “fare” share
Says MTA proposal to eliminate subsidies to Long Island Bus is “long overdue” and cites the hardship Staten Islanders face as the highest-tolled in the Nation
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today urged the MTA to eliminate the subsidies to Nassau County’s Long Island Bus service in the wake of drastic budget shortages.
“When the MTA releases its budget plans next week, I hope to see the subsidy of Nassau County’s bus system eliminated entirely.” Molinaro said. “Plainly speaking, Staten Island residents are tired of paying to move these commuters.”
“Nassau County pays just $9 million each year for their bus service while the MTA provides a whopping $40 million.” Molinaro added. “And where does that money come from? It comes from the $11 toll on the Verrazano Bridge. Staten Island is one of the highest -tolled communities in the Country, and it’s mainly because the MTA uses our toll money to support transportation services in other areas. It is outrageous that our residents, who are City taxpayers, have money taken out of their pocket to pay for Long Island commuters.”
“It is my hope that the elimination of the Nassau County subsidy and other similarly allocated funds will appear in the MTA budget plans, allowing Staten Islanders to stop bearing the burden of the region’s transportation needs,” Molinaro continued. “It is ludicrous that the toll on the Verrazano Bridge has been allowed to climb to $11, especially when our nearly 500,000 residents receive very little transportation benefits from the monies collected. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge contributes over $285 million annually to MTA coffers; it is high time this money is dedicated exclusively to much needed local projects and not to Long Island buses.”
July 22, 2010