Hoyt Responds To The NFTA Fare Increase
As a Buffalo resident, the NFTA fare hike is no doubt looming over your head. The two-step increase will begin on January 1st, when the fare raises from one dollar and fifty cents to one dollar and seventy-five cents. Then, on July 1st, the rate goes up another quarter to make the cost of riding the bus and train two dollars. There has been a lot of outrage over the increase as county legislators decry it as too harming to the poor and middle class and NFTA frequenters lament the added strain it will put on their wallets. Some feel the NFTA could do more to cut costs before jacking up the price to ride the train and bus while the NFTA states that they've done all they could, but are dedicated to doing all they can to try and help their riders from suffering the full brunt of a fifty cent increase.
There are opinions on both sides of the issue, but Sam Hoyt has taken the additional step of sending a statement to the NFTA to show his opposition to the fare raise in one of the nation's poorest cities. The full statement from Hoyt is below:
STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY ASSEMBLYMAN SAM HOYT TO NFTA BOARD
I would respectfully request that you to reconsider your proposal to increase NFTA fares by fifty cents. The reasons to do this are clear.
Buffalo is, according the US census, the 2nd poorest City in the United States with a poverty rate of nearly 30%. Buffalo has the highest fuel prices in the State – cutting into the auto transit-buying power of the poor. The fare increase will deeply impact those who can afford it least at a time when it could not hurt more.
We could be asking those who can afford it more to pay their fair share. Unlike some of the many people served by NFTA infrastructure, public transportation riders are the least likely to fly out from one of your airports or operate a recreational yacht. With Canadians representing around 30% of airport customers, and out of towners another share, we should really be looking at ticket surcharges, concession fees, and parking fees, not to mention yacht club slip rentals in the small boat harbor instead of hitting up those who can least afford it.
I also wanted to take issue with NFTA officials who told those who showed up at the last hearing that a fair hike was the only way to close a $3.2-million budget gap. According to press accounts, blame was placed squarely on a loss of outside revenues--primarily state aid and mortgage tax. I can't speak to the mortgage tax issue but I am here to counter the claims about state aid – at least on the basis of history and what I have heard in Albany.
We in the Western New York Delegation have worked hard to maintain and improve funding for our public transit system. In recent history that advocacy has allowed NFTA to enjoy large increases of state funding. From 01-02 until today, cumulative increases in State Aid have been $23 Million and the average increase for those years is 15.9% percent. We did not increase State aid every year – two years we did not, but during that time we never cut aid.
I have always said that the NFTA is an affordable and dependable way for City residents and those in the first-ring suburbs to get to work and travel within our region – something that increased rider ship proves is working. The fare increase may erase all the progress we have made to get people back onboard our public transit system.
However, it is more than just the community's deep need that should compel you to reconsider the plans for the next few years. NFTA's current plans include expansions to services that are predicated on sprawl-fueled development incentives by IDAs, government handouts, and tax-benefit packages that push more and more development further away from our urban centers. We have all seen that extending a sewer line means that more green fields will be transformed into expensive new towns and villages. In the same way, extending bus lines out ever further will mean more gas, more operators and more costs, putting further stress into a system which is already stretched to its limits. Unless we take action to stop the madness, we will be sprawling our way into bankruptcy.
Given the recent controversy about the heads of the Big Three auto manufactures flying private jets to testify before congress for a bailout, I will not ask the question of you, the board members, or the rest of the NFTA employees how you got to work today. I only hope that you are leading by example and using public transit as opposed to a company car.
The reason I bring up this point is because I think the amount you are asking riders for is excessive. A fifty cent hike is a 30% increase over the $1.50 fare. If you told most people you were going to increase gas prices by 30% over the next six months they would be outraged. If you told them we were going to raise gas taxes 30 percent there would be an uproar. People would have a choice to keep driving or explore other options. Even though some riders may never get a chance to speak tonight, for many, there is no other choice, no other alternative. Riders matter, NFTA matters and that's why I and my colleagues have fought so hard for funding for NFTA in past years and will do so again.
Recent reports have spoken about the significant efforts made by Rochester's transit authority to cut inefficient lines and explore other, more creative options than a rate increase. Until we've looked what they did and others are doing, this rate increase needs to be pushed back.
Before we start raising rates we need to ask the question have we explored dramatic reductions in administrative costs? The NFTA has multiple revenue centers including the small boat harbor, two airports and multiple parking facilities. We need to explore these resources as alternative revenue centers. This fare hike ought to be the last resort and no stone ought to be left unturned before we raise the fares.
I understand that a fare increase may be necessary but I am respectfully requesting that you go back to the drawing board and redouble your efforts to cut administrative expenses, reduce or eliminate the number of inefficient lines, reduce administrative expenses, look at other revenue centers within NFTA jurisdiction, and sell off surplus land including valuable waterfront property that you may own. Please, do all you can in these areas before you dramatically increase the rates on the most impoverished people in our community. It is essential that the NFTA tighten its belt, weather the temporary storm, and reconsider the fare increase.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
The Wait is Almost Over - BR's New Site
As we mentioned in our previous post, we’re in the process of changing the Buffalo Rising site. We’re almost there as we expect to launch the new site on Friday, December 19th.
In the meantime, posting will be light as we log new stories in the new publishing system which will only be viewable when we launch on Friday.
As always, we appreciate our users’ patience as we make this transition but we promise it will be well worth it. With faster load times, a comment view … - Dec 18th 2008, 11:32am
- Continue Reading
- 5 Comments
-
A Kennedy Visits Buffalo
Caroline Kennedy was in town for a visit with our mayor yesterday. A possible choice to succeed US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kennedy's name has been mentioned along with that of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo) and our own Byron Brown, among others.
Certainly, Kennedy has "been around politics" all of her life, which is to say she was born into a family of politicos and lived in the White House--neither of which would necessarily f … - Dec 18th 2008, 7:55am
- Continue Reading
- 32 Comments
-
Downtown Free Fare Zone May be Axed
Free light rail rides on downtown's above ground section could be derailed thanks to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's budget mess. That is the news coming out of a Buffalo Place meeting this morning. Facing a budget shortfall and reduced State operating assistance, the NFTA is scrambling for new revenue sources and is contemplating charging for rides along the lengthy downtown pedestrian mall.- Dec 17th 2008, 4:40pm
- Continue Reading
- 48 Comments
-
The NFTA Santa Ride
Well it is Christmas time in the city and the NFTA helped put people and especially children into the mood in a very festive and fun way. One of my favorite memories of childhood was taking the train downtown with my grandfather. I would gaze out the windows and watch the tunnel speed by. It always felt like we were going a million miles an hour.
Then there was the ability to stand up and walk around during the ride without the need to be strapped down. It was always a fun time … - Dec 17th 2008, 4:34pm
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
Comment Options
Buffalo21stcentury
Didnt they just give a generous union contract to their employees? How about reigning in costs! Rochester is reducing costs and fairs!
Oh and Mr.Hoyt, President Obama's multi-billion dollar infrastructure bill is heavy on mass transit so gather your state and federal representatives of the region. Buffalo needs an extension to the Airport and UB! Can you think of a better economic stimulous to Buffalo than $500 million multi-year infusion of funds for light rail mass transit. Very few cities even have a light rail to make the request! This is something Buffalo can do but no other upstate city can do!
Report this
Antiques_Allentown
Why can't there be a compromise of a 25 cent increase? I personally would be fine paying more if there were improvements like rail service to the airport and UB Amherst.
Report this
d_a_n
^^^agreed.
if i'm in new york, i can take the train pretty much anywhere in the metro area for $2 one way. expecting people in buffalo to pay the same for what amounts to a straight line rail seems ridiculous.
Report this
TranspoGuy
Buffalo already has one of the highest farebox recovery ratios in the country. NFTA gets about 23% of their annual funding from user paid fares, the national average is only about 10%.
To impose a higher fare is going to kill the ridership. Buffalo has a huge transit dependant population that will be forced to pay a higher fare, resulting in having to compromise other spending (food, children's clothes, etc....).
I agree with Sam Hoyt, this is totally unwarrented.
Report this
whynot
This is ridiculous! Put this up there with our exhorbitant utility and tax rates that are out of pace with the rest of the nation. This is an increase in fares to support a low level of service that is out of touch with customer needs and expectations.
The NFTA continues to operate inefficiently and without sufficient accountability to the people of Buffalo. I say we boycott the NFTA until they come in line with our needs.
Report this
Dangelo23
I wouldn't mind paying more if NFTA promised to EXTEND THE METRO RAIL!!!! Tilll then, forget bout it.
Report this
sbrof
There are two ways to look at this. My first emotion was outrage. The idea of raising fairs in a time when ridership is increasing almost seems suicidal. Like they don't want to improve themselves. I also watch all their public meetings online and except for Helfer and Zemski feel the rest of them don't offer much to the discussion. They seem like yes men that just always want to applaud the workers. Fine but there are tough decisions to be made.
I also want to STOP hearing about the light rail as an excuse.. it is the backbone of the system. Taking it offline would cripple an OK system making it difficult, inconvenient and inefficient. The problem is the system around the light rail hasn't changes to take advantage of this. Routes need to be changed and made more efficient and some need to disappear altogether.
The 8 Main is pointless. The train is faster easier and more convenient to use always... I don't know why I would ever stand outside and wait for a late bus in the cold.. when i could go inside in a warm station for a train that is almost always exactly on time.
29 Wohlers is another useless route.. There isn't a point to this route. Just meanders around with no real purpose. I have never seen anyone on it and never had a use for it when I lived right next to it.
13 Utica. Goes from the Utica station, through the east side to the University station... why the loop? Why not make a more efficient cross town line and let people take the train the couple stops from Utica to South Campus... I have often wanted to take the Utica bus but it doesn't run often enough to worth waiting for. The Bailey \ Jefferson \ Delavan \ Kensington or East Side buses could handle those areas of the East side that no longer would get the 12.
Get rid of their SUV's. I have been annoyed at their very existence for over a year now. Sent several letters to NFTA without a response. See my original rant over on Built Buffalo.
So I feel there are still leaps and bounds that the NFTA can do to improve the efficiency and overhead of their operations.
Report this
sbrof
The other side of the story is that while a 30% increase is huge, and very significant. The overall affordability of the system is still there. Right now I get transportation serves for 66 dollars a month. That is $792 dollars for a whole years worth of transportation. I can to the gallaria, the boulevard, downtown, work or niagara falls in that price.
AAA just came out with their 2008 projects for vehicle ownership. On average it costs people 9k dollars per years drive their vehicles or on average about 55 cents per mile. Even with the full fifty cent hike in fairs I will be paying $1,056 per year for transportation. That is 88 dollars a month to ride as much as I want.
Taking discounts into affect like the NFTA advantage program, which many employers now offer. Those costs come out of my income per taxed. This saves me approximately 30% of those costs. This means i am really only paying about $540 now and will only be paying $740 with the hike. The difference comes from less tax throughout the year.
So while I would like to see many changes to improve the NFTA current system and efficiencies. This hike is probably necessary. Just as Hoyt said. Instead of fighting the hike, maybe we should be promoting employers to offer the NFTA advantage program.
Report this
jamesbflo
i'll continue paying the estimated 9k per year if it means me being able to get somewhere in minutes rather than hours.
Report this
Buffalo21stcentury
You couldnt get me or my family on a bus but we will continue to patronize the light rail whenever there is a reason to go into downtown Buffalo and look forward to being able to use the light rail to go to the galleria, airport or Niagara Falls when those extensions happen.
Mass Transit (Light Rail and Passenger Rail) have big financing in the Obama infrastructure economic stimulus but the question is whether the NFTA and local leaders will be stupid enough to pass up a $500 million economic infusion that a light rail extension will bring!
Report this
sonyactivision
@Dan, "$2"? You haven't been reading the papers in NYC have you?
Report this
ryanelguiri
If I could simply drive 5 minutes, pick up the light rail, and be at the airport, galleria, downtown, etc. I would be in heaven. No more having to leave my car at Long Term Parking, no more avoiding the mall during Christmas simply because I don't feel like getting into an accident.
This is why I loved living in Europe. Get my book, hop on a train, and get there when I'm supposed to get there. Now, that was the best.
Report this
ntdrew
if their gonna raise the fair, expand their service!!! EXTEND THE RAIL!!!
Report this
carlmalone
sbrof: nice analysis, you obviously speak from experience and get into your public transportation
Report this
chrishawley
Antoine Thompson also responded to the rate increase. Why isn't he on the front page of Buffalo Rising? Or is the site quickly becoming a PR-extension of Western New York's second longest tenured assemblyman?
Report this
chrishawley
The broader meaning of my comment is this: I'm convinced Buffalo Rising's strength has been in highlighting important issues, not celebrating certain politicians. It's probably fair to say Sam Hoyt has been featured on Buffalo Rising a bit too often lately, to the detriment of others who may doing some good, or even better.
Buffalo's weird political divisions can speak for themselves, but Buffalo Rising's place is in bringing progressives together to talk about the issues important to Buffalo's future.
Report this
SnarkFest
My favorite part of the December 3rd NFTA hearing on the proposed fare hikes was when Executive Director Lawrence Meckler turned bright red and started shouting at the audience. He did this in response to the question, “ I earn $12,000 a year, how much do you make?”, from a handicapped man in a wheelchair.
http://buffalowatch.blogspot.com/2008/12/nfta-executive-director-to-public-i_04.html
Report this
Paleo
Abolish the NFTA and its inefficient monopoly on mass transit. Monopolies give you lousy and expensive services. Their model is 19th Century if that.
Report this