NY lays off 194 subway workers
From New York comes a reminder that the revenue problems facing Washington's public transportation systems aren't unique. The New York area Metropolitan Transit Authority faces an $800 million deficit, and Friday 194 New York City subway workers lost their jobs.
A judge had prevented the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from closing more than 40 subway booths and firing the workers in June. She said the transit agency needed to hold a new round of public hearings first.
The meetings took place in July. The MTA says it has cut nearly 3,500 jobs this year.
The American Public Transportation Association said in March that 84 percent of transit systems had made service cuts or raised fares, or were considering those options. In April thousands of workers rallied on Capitol Hill to seek more federal funding for transportation systems.
In June Metro implemented the first phase of the most expansive fare increase in its history, with additional increases coming last week. Metro's budget for the current fiscal year includes $16 million in reductions to administrative staff.
Metro has avoided implementing service reductions, saying members of the public expressed a preference for fare increases over service reductions in public hearings held on the budget problems.
-- Associated Press and staff reports
By
Michael Bolden
| August 13, 2010; 12:31 PM ET
Categories:
Metro
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Posted by: jrutter21 | August 13, 2010 2:44 PM | Report abuse
"Yet in DC we can't lay off malcontents like David Lacosse (escalator manager), drivers who text, assault customers, ignore complaints, etc.... we just raise fares and keep paying these slugs...."
Nor can Metro get rid of bus drivers who kill motorists.
Posted by: ceefer66 | August 13, 2010 2:48 PM | Report abuse
And yet in another showing of stupidity in the transit managers, since 1996, Ride-On Transit has allowed the continued employment of one of its drivers, convicted of CHILD MOLESTATION against a 12 year old girl (daughter of a co-worker), whereas the victims father (2time employee of the month & 1993's Best of the Best Transit Operator) was let go.
I guess its ok to text & drive, punchout a DC cop dressed as McGruff, molest 12 year old girls & still have a job, serving the public as a transit bus operator.
Posted by: Robbnitafl | August 13, 2010 2:58 PM | Report abuse
Did he molest her on a bus? Heck, in the MetroRail system, molestation is pretty much a given for passengers.
Posted by: jiji1 | August 13, 2010 4:11 PM | Report abuse
Metro hasn't "avoided implementing service reductions"
Metro merely claims to "avoided implementing service reductions"
See 8-car-trains and Foggy Bottom. Enough said.
Posted by: jiji1 | August 13, 2010 4:18 PM | Report abuse
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Yet in DC we can't lay off malcontents like David Lacosse (escalator manager), drivers who text, assault customers, ignore complaints, etc.... we just raise fares and keep paying these slugs....