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the subway is worse than ever. friends who normally shrug things off in that very new york way now can't take it anymore.
but "overcrowding" is only part of the problem (or not actually the problem. cities grow.) and is an attempt to let the mta off the hook. what about failing infrastructure and lack of planning and foresight. signal failure seems to be just as much of a problem as crowded trains.
I don't think privatization is necessary. I just think that riders should pay the full cost like they do in other cities. That doesn't require privatization. It's a more reliable source of funding than political will, which isn't always there. And I know that you'll argue that it won't work because driving is subsidized but I also think that drivers should pay the full cost of their infrastructure.It's a more reliable source of funding than political will, which isn't always there.
the subway is worse than ever. friends who normally shrug things off in that very new york way now can't take it anymore.
but "overcrowding" is only part of the problem (or not actually the problem. cities grow.) and is an attempt to let the mta off the hook. what about failing infrastructure and lack of planning and foresight. signal failure seems to be just as much of a problem as crowded trains.
2nd Avenue subway was planned decades ago, but without funding it didn't go anywhere. It all comes down to money.
I don't think privatization is necessary. I just think that riders should pay the full cost like they do in other cities. That doesn't require privatization. It's a more reliable source of funding than political will, which isn't always there. And I know that you'll argue that it won't work because driving is subsidized but I also think that drivers should pay the full cost of their infrastructure.It's a more reliable source of funding than political will, which isn't always there.
You make the MTA pvt and that company would go bankrupt within 6 months.
Again I keep stressing this, you cannot compare the MTA to other Metros across the world because no other metro runs 24/7 365 days a year.
London transit shuts down at night similar to the Metro North and then starts back up again around a certain time.
If the MTA had that down time I guarantee they would be able to complete a lot of things quickly and effectively.
However that is not the case as NY would have a hissy fit. They work around the best interest of the public.
It's all good when you throw out random ideas on what you think should happen but privatizing a monopoly system would be a disaster.
See comcast for reference
I believe that we should privatize the subway system. The actual logistics of doing this would require a great deal of study and expertise, but it is certainly possible. Private companies who desire to make a profit have a strong incentive to provide a good product (safe, efficient transportation using modern technology). A government monopoly has zero incentive to provide a good product.
I believe that we should privatize the subway system. The actual logistics of doing this would require a great deal of study and expertise, but it is certainly possible. Private companies who desire to make a profit have a strong incentive to provide a good product (safe, efficient transportation using modern technology). A government monopoly has zero incentive to provide a good product.
We've covered this already. The NYC subway system was largely built and owned by private companies and it ended badly. Even NYC couldn't run the thing either so it ended up with NYS/MTA.
First and foremost you remove NYCT from the MTA/NYS control and make those employees private they will no longer fall under the Taylor Laws. That means just like Metro North workers they could legally go out on strike and or engage in other labor actions.
Keeping with the workers what private company in their right mind is going to touch the pension and other employee obligations of NYCT workers? You *could* I suppose leave such cost for workers up to a certain date with the state, but it is unclear and very uncertain how others would react.
Again as stated upthread one huge reason why the private companies historically couldn't make a profit (or even enough to invest in keeping the system up and running in good repair) was the reluctance of elected officials to grant the necessary fare hikes.
NYCT has a fare box recovery of only about 51%, the rest of their money comes from the MTA via various funding sources. Remove the MTA then where will that money come from? Do not even think full fare box recovery would cover even day to day operating expenses, so more money must come from somewhere. That means subsidies from either the state and or city.
For profit enterprises exist for that reason; to make money. If any of you think someone is going to buy the NYC subway system because they like playing with choo-choo trains, think on.
Read the link above. I feel sorry for those transplants, business and real estate developers who depend on the L train for their money. I hope those folks can build an organic floating barge or bikeshare floating gondolas across the east river.
Read the link above. I feel sorry for those transplants, business and real estate developers who depend on the L train for their money. I hope those folks can build an organic floating barge or bikeshare floating gondolas across the east river.
Until Williamsburg took off as the next big thing in terms of a neighborhood the L train was never heavily used as it is now. Damage from super storm Sandy hasn't helped matters but long story short is those tunnels need major work.
In a city with 24/7 subway service the MTA has few options. Doing the work as some would like just on weekends/nights extends project time greatly. Time is something those particular tunnels do not have. People complaining now will be a lot more unhappy if they or someone they love/know is harmed due to an accident down there.
Until Williamsburg took off as the next big thing in terms of a neighborhood the L train was never heavily used as it is now. Damage from super storm Sandy hasn't helped matters but long story short is those tunnels need major work.
In a city with 24/7 subway service the MTA has few options. Doing the work as some would like just on weekends/nights extends project time greatly. Time is something those particular tunnels do not have. People complaining now will be a lot more unhappy if they or someone they love/know is harmed due to an accident down there.
We've been talking about mismanagement by the MTA in this thread. Doing it one tunnel at a time would certainly be mismanagement. For one thing, it would likelier be costlier to do. Secondly, it doesn't even help riders that much anyway; it won't be a one seat rider with the shuttle bus between Bedford and Lorimer. The 15 minute headways severely limits capacity too.
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