My MTA Budget Proposal

Outside it’s a beautiful day in New York, but a horrifying reality for many who depend on public transportation.

Today the updated New York City Subway and Bus Map went into effect, and the new changes and cuts have taken place as planned. At 7:34 a.m. the loud speaker outside of the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island continuously announced the bus routes that were discontinued and routes that have been changed.

Onto the ferry, the overhead voice of a male speaks for thirtyseconds, reminding the riders to be aware of life jackets andbeware of the stairs while docking. Lastly he states: “Thank you for riding the Staten Island Ferry.”

Known as one of the free alternatives to view the Statue of Liberty and a destination for millions of tourists every year, the Staten Island Ferry should be a goldmine for the city of New York, and its riders should be thanking God for the free trip. The city that never sleeps begs the question from me: “Why the hell is the Staten Island Ferry free?”

I have a proposal for Mayor Bloomberg and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), here’s how we attempt to lessen the MTA deficit: Charge riders on the Staten Island Ferry.

60,000 people ride the ferry every day (not including weekends), if we charged every passenger a token of $1.00 the city would make approximately $300,000 during the week. The city charges for every other mode of transportation, also must pay the ferry crew and captain and is spending a tremendous amount of money revamping the Whitehall St. Ferry Terminal in Manhattan. Therefore, why not charge the riders?

Staten Islanders have a few options on how to get into the city:

1. Swim.

2. The $5.50 Express bus into Manhattan.

3. Driving the expressway to the Goethals and then through Jersey, etc.

4. Driving across the Verrazano Bridge for a whopping $11.00.

5. The crowded and inconvenient S53.

6. The $0.00 Staten Island ferry to Lower Manhattan.

Taking the ferry is a necessity and God-given gift to many New Yorkers, charging a nickel and few dimes may sicken some, but it could help heal the MTA’s dying budget.

Why $1.00? Simply because it sounds nice. At least is a concrete andeffective option… Unlike our brilliant Mayor who proposed what? Charging public school kids… what a bully!

By Ivanna M. Elliott

Originally posted on June 28, 2010. Reposted due to technical difficulties... Translation: Ivy sucks with computers.