OPINION: Nassau bus riders hanging in the balance

Ever since Nassau County cut its contribution to Long Island Bus from a high of $21.7 million in 1999 to the $9.1 million it provides today, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has picked up the slack. In 2010 alone, the MTA will pay about $32 million to help run this suburban bus system, a benefit no other county in the metropolitan region enjoys.

Unfortunately for the people who log 33 million rides a year on LI Bus, that perk may be coming to an end. The recent proposal by the MTA to cut its entire contribution to LI Bus next year will decimate the system and leave riders stranded. But just as misguided is Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's proposal to privatize bus service.

When transit has been privatized elsewhere, it has often left riders in the lurch with the loss of free transfers and the elimination of "unprofitable" lines, often without public input. In fact, the reason LI Bus became a public entity in the 1970s was that the privately run system was highly inefficient, with varying fares and poor connectivity among 10 different service providers.

The answer now is simple: Nassau County must give transit the priority it deserves and find a way to do more to fund its bus system. It's true that in stark contrast to previous administrations, the county has proposed a modest increase in funding over the next five years, but it's unclear if that will be enough to forestall the MTA's proposed cut. And the county's proposal falls short of identifying a sustainable funding stream to operate Nassau's buses.

In the short term, the MTA must retract its plan - especially as it plans to study a possible long-term solution in the form of a regional bus system. Funds are set aside in the MTA's current capital program for a "Regional Bus Study" to explore an integrated bus network for Nassau, Westchester and possibly Suffolk counties. (Unlike Nassau, which receives state, county and MTA funding, both Suffolk and Westchester receive state transit assistance and county contributions, with no MTA support.) Such a system could deliver cost efficiencies for the MTA and suburban counties, while delivering improved and expanded service to riders.

Taking any drastic actions before the results of this study are released would be shortsighted and will most likely damage the system irreparably.

As the county, state and MTA grapple with tight budgets and competing interests, other revenue sources to improve LI Bus service must be explored. So far, congestion pricing and tolls for New York City's East River bridges have lacked sufficient support in Albany. While much of the opposition was centered in the city, Long Island's delegation remained largely silent when it could have led a groundswell among other suburban legislators and pushed support over the edge.

Bridge tolls and congestion pricing are win-win for Long Island. Either scenario would have an impact on relatively few Long Islanders, while delivering economic, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits for all. The overwhelming majority of residents in Nassau and Suffolk do not work in Manhattan - and of those who do, most take transit. Only 3.5 percent of Nassau commuters and 1.4 percent of Suffolk commuters drive to work in Manhattan and would pay East River Bridge tolls. Even fewer would have paid the congestion pricing fee under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 2008 plan. Long Island legislators should be at the forefront of bringing these ideas up again.

At the county level, lawmakers could show their support for transit by adopting a new and specific funding stream dedicated to LI Bus. While this may seem politically unpalatable, it's worth noting that voters in St. Louis, San Diego and elsewhere have approved taxes to fund transit systems.

Unfortunately, most of our leaders seem content to complain about the status quo instead of finding the courage to back innovative funding ideas.

In the meantime, the future of LI Bus is once again hanging in the balance. If the county, MTA and state don't find a sustainable solution for LI Bus, riders will face higher fares and service cuts, car drivers will suffer greater congestion as more people choose to drive, businesses will be hit with lower economic productivity, and Long Islanders will suffer a decreased quality of life and a dirtier environment.