Mangano seeks answers in LI Bus takeover
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano testifies at the Long Island Bus public hearing (Dec. 5, 2011) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Veolia Transportation met with Nassau County officials this week to discuss questions raised by its Paris-based parent's decision to get out of the mass transit business, a spokeswoman said.
Katherine Heaviside, the spokeswoman, said company managers had met this week with County Executive Edward Mangano and county legislators to talk about the county's Long Island Bus system and the Veolia Environnement SA's sale of Veolia Transportation.
She declined to discuss what types of questions were asked.
Brian Nevin, Mangano's communications director, said the county executive Friday was "working to have his questions answered" on how the sale might impact the county's proposed contract with Veolia.
The Lombard, Ill.-based company on Jan. 1 is scheduled to begin operating the county's bus system that transports 100,000 riders a day. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority currently operates the system.
The Nassau County Legislature is scheduled to have a hearing on the Veolia contract on Monday. A vote on its approval could come then, county officials said.
Jeremy Soffin, an MTA spokesman, said the transit agency was proceeding as though Veolia would prevail and win the vote.
"We think Veolia is ready," Soffin said.
Mangano has been mulling what effect the ownership change will have on the proposed contract with Veolia since Tuesday.
On Friday, Nevin said the county executive might have more to say about the Veolia contract over the weekend.
Should the contract not win approval, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has operated the bus service for 38 years, is prepared to extend the agreement to operate the buses if the county makes such a request.
Otherwise, the MTA plans to operate its last service for Nassau County on Dec. 31. Veolia's five-year contract is worth $106 million annually.
Mangano also said he would be taking another look at two other transportation firms that had bid on the contract.
"I've been waiting patiently by the phone," said Carter Pate, chief executive of MV Transportation, of Fairfield, Calif., one of the other firms that bid on the contract. "I have not received a call."
