Nassau's deal with bus operator criticized

Democratic lawmakers, labor leaders and riders voiced serious concerns Friday over details of the contract with a private transit company to take over Nassau County's bus system, including whether it gives the operator too much power.

County Executive Edward Mangano released the contract Thursday afternoon, the day before a three-day holiday weekend. The county legislature's rules committee is expected to take it up on Monday. The full legislature will probably vote on the contract on Nov. 28.

The contract calls on Illinois-based Veolia Transportation to operate the newly created Nassau Inter-County Express Bus system, or NICE Bus, starting Jan. 1. Mangano has said the "public-private partnership" will save taxpayers millions of dollars in subsidies compared with the current Long Island Bus system, which has been operated by the MTA for 38 years.

Democratic legislators said the deal gives Veolia too much leeway to make changes to the system that could hurt riders. Veolia can demand higher fares, service cuts or higher fees from the county whenever costs exceed projections or revenues fall short.

"Veolia appears to be in the driver's seat throughout the contract and county residents are being brought along for the ride," said Legis. Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury).

Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) charged the contract's release just days before lawmakers are scheduled to act was "purely intended to leave us with no options, little information and more questions than answers."

Mangano on Thursday defended the timing, saying that it took a "complicated process" to finish the deal.

Mangano has said that service cuts and fare hikes would have to be approved by a five-member County Transit Committee. But Jacobs noted that the contract allows for Veolia to pull out of Nassau if the committee rejects its proposals.

County Majority Leader Legis. Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), who also sits on the rules committee, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Under the deal, Veolia can also lengthen the wait time between buses with low ridership and eliminate six lines altogether in the first half of 2012.

"I hope it's not mine," said Gloria Davis, 71, of Hempstead, as she waited for the N41 yesterday at the Rosa Parks Transit Center in Hempstead. "I don't feel good about it."

LI Bus labor leaders took issue with the contract's handling of claims from LI Bus workers whose wages and benefits may be affected. The Transport Workers Union has maintained that, under federal law, all LI Bus employees are entitled to existing compensation for six years after Veolia takes over. The county and Veolia dispute that.

The contract asserts that a union move to enforce such claims would be considered an unanticipated "major event" that could result in steep fare hikes and service cuts.

"We're not a hurricane or a tornado or a flood. We're a major event that is controllable," said TWU spokesman Jamie Horwitz.

With Keith Herbert