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April 30, 2009
Atlantic Yards YES! Late-night subway riders NO!!
What's the point of building a basketball arena near a transit-hub if the sweetheart deal for the railyard over which a portion of that arena would be built shortchanges the cash-strapped transit authority, leading to huge fare increases and draconian service cuts?
The New York Times, New Cuts Could Doom Late-Night Subway Service, M.T.A. Director Says
The executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Wednesday that a possible second round of service cuts and fare increases in the near future would take the transit system “beyond doomsday” and that extreme measures like stopping late-night subway service could not be ruled out.
...The authority revealed on Monday that it faces an additional $621 million shortfall this year, even after deep service cuts and fare increases of as much as 30 percent go into effect. The new deficit estimate is due to the slumping economy, which has cut revenues from taxes and fare and toll collections.
A deficit of more than $1 billion is forecast for next year.
Subway and bus fares are scheduled to go up on May 31, with the base fare rising to $2.50, from $2. Service cuts, including the elimination of 35 bus routes and the W and Z subway lines, will be phased in over the rest of the year.
NoLandGrab: You may recall that "increased weekday evening and weekend service to the Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street subway station complex" was one of the proposed "traffic mitigation measures" listed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Atlantic Yards. Many critics thought that wasn't plausible when the FEIS was issued in 2006. How about now?
Posted by eric at April 30, 2009 3:39 PM