Parking and MTA fare beaters
Congestion pricing is expected to recoup losses from MTA fare evasion, a reader writes. Credit: Charles Eckert
If cars stay on LI, where will they park?
Yes, congestion pricing will reduce the number of cars entering the city's midtown area ["Gridlock relief is sorely needed," Editorial, Sept. 25]. I am retired but commuted to Manhattan for many years. Parking was at a premium at the Merrick and Bellmore Long Island Rail Road stations. I had to get there earlier than necessary just to find a parking spot. I still go to the city once or twice a month. I can't find parking if I go to the station at noon. If congestion pricing goes into effect, where will the overflow of cars go? More people will choose to take the train, but where can you leave your car? The current train station parking can't accommodate the increase in cars. What is Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman doing about this? New York City wants to generate more money to upgrade the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. I don't think it will help. It will only annoy a lot of people.
Bob Green, East Meadow
Stop fare beaters to cut transit losses
I guess the congestion pricing is supposed to make up for the more than $500 million that New York City Transit estimated it will lose to fare beaters just this year. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reports that fare evasion cost the city transit system $119 million in subway and bus fare losses in just the first three months this year. The numbers seem to show that fare-beating is increasing. Does anyone think that there will be any prevention or significant reduction in fare-beating? People either jump over a subway turnstile or crawl under it.
City officials seem to have turned away from proactive crime fighting and act as if riders will just do the right thing. Is it too late to start fighting this crime and start enforcing the law?
Michael J. Gorman, Whitestone
The writer is a retired NYPD lieutenant.
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