Letter: Senate support needed for MTA
The Long Island Rail Road has reported increased ridership and record on-time performance figures. (Jan. 23, 2012) Credit: Craig Ruttle
More than $770 million, including major support for critical LIRR capital repairs, has been cut in the State Senate budget resolution that astoundingly is being supported by Long Island's own Senate majority delegation. The Senate's budget goes even further and doubles the damage by removing Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's sensible proposed increase of $7 billion in the MTA debt cap. Removing the higher cap would put a halt to a host of essential capital projects.
If that wasn't enough, these Senate actions could jeopardize a $2.2-billion pending federal loan needed to help complete the East Side Access project, providing direct rail service to Grand Central. This project will reduce crowding on trains to Penn Station and improve the commute for LIRR riders.
