NEW YORK — A task force examining the state of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the transit agency could need as much as $60 billion for a five-year plan to address capital needs, and makes some wide-ranging recommendations on how to improve the commuter network.
The New York Times reports that the recommendations of the Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup include:
— Reorganization or dissolution of the MTA, because it is inefficient. One suggestion is to merge MTA’s two commuter railroads, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, to save costs.
— Additional revenue sources to address the capital needs. The report supports congestion pricing, a toll on cars entering Manhattan, and offers other ideas including a charge on for-hire vehicles that linger in busy areas; a tax on New York City property sales above $5 million, and a tax on the sale of legalized marijuana, which is under consideration.
— Better efforts to stop fare evasion, which is estimated to cost MTA $215 million this year.
— Reduce labor costs, which the report says accounts for about 60 percent of operating expenses.
The full 37-page report is available here.
And, MTA wants to buy Grand Central Terminal?!