With a fare increase looming and contract talks intensifying, the transit workers' union said yesterday that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority could save up to $300 million a year — and help save the $1.50 fare — by transforming the city's bus system into a kind of surface subway.þþThe proposal was one of several ways that the union said the transit agency could close its budget gap without pain either for riders or transit workers, whose three-year contract expires Dec. 15.þþFor several months now, transit officials have been exploring elements of what is known as bus rapid transit, a system in which buses use coordinated traffic lights, dedicated lanes and subway-style loading and unloading to increase speed and reliability on congested streets. The system is already used and considered a success on several routes in Los Angeles.þþOfficials with the Transport Workers Union, Local 100, contended yesterday that if such a system were put in place on 45 percent of the city's routes, average bus speeds — now the slowest in the country — would rise by 40 percent. And because faster service would cut both fuel and labor costs, union officials said, the system would be considerably less expensive to operate.þþIn addition, union leaders said, it would increase ridership by making bus travel more reliable and so bus fare revenue would rise as a result.þþÿThese ideas are not revolutionary,ÿ said Larry Hanley, an international representative for the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents some city bus drivers and which supports the proposal. ÿThey're being done around the country and around the world.ÿþþThe Transport Workers Union said that the money saved on bus operations — along with other savings from reducing some capital spending and having transit workers instead of outside contractors perform many jobs — could add up to more than $700 million a year.þþBy comparison, the M.T.A. has projected that a fare increase to $2 from $1.50, along with new MetroCard discounts, could raise an extra $850 million over two years to help close a budget gap of more than $2.7 billion expected during that time.þþTom Kelly, an M.T.A. spokesman, said yesterday that transit officials believed that it was far from certain that the aggressive use of bus rapid transit — minor elements of which have already been put in place on some city routes — would save as much money as the union contended.þþÿIt's very easy for somebody to just come up with a number of what they think something can save,ÿ Mr. Kelly said. ÿThis plan is long on rhetoric and short on facts.ÿþþHe added, however, that the M.T.A. and the city remained interested in expanding bus rapid transit and would consider the union's proposals for where it would work best. ÿAnything that will enhance the service to our customers,ÿ he said, ÿwe are willing to explore.ÿþþ
Source: NY Times
