Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Port Authority requests record $191 million in transit funding
PAT on Taxpayers’ Backs Again
The Port Authority (PAT) is asking the Federal Transit Administration for $70 million in federal highway funds to be “flexed” to cover a projected shortfall in its 2005-06 operating budget. This is not the first time that the Port Authority’s budget deficit has been covered with money originally destined for much-needed road and bridge work. With area bridges and roads in bad need of repair, this is a terrible misuse of road funds.
Many bridges in the region are listed as “structurally deficient” and are waiting for funding to be repaired. One span fell onto Interstate 70. Yet the Port Authority is asking for more money to be diverted away from these projects. Since 2003 Governor Rendell has flexed more than $117 million from highway and bridge repair to the Port Authority to cover budget gaps.
But has PAT done anything to close the financing gaps on its own? Has it made any efforts to reduce spending? In short, PAT has done little or nothing. But it has spent money on capital projects such as the Overbrook T extension, parking garages and the Wabash Tunnel HOV project—all horrendously underutilized and adding to operating costs. Now, to top it off, PAT wants to waste another $400 million plus who knows how much in overruns on the North Shore Connector boondoggle.
PAT wages and benefits are among the very highest in the country. Meanwhile, ridership figures have been in long term decline for years—until recently when they were buoyed by high gasoline prices. But even that is a double edged-sword because fuel costs for the Port Authority have also increased.
PAT is threatening to raise fares and reduce services, which will cause riders to demand that lawmakers dedicate more money to this black hole. It is time for some accountability and rationality at the Port Authority. Service cuts should be implemented especially on the very low volume routes. Shift to more cost efficient, smaller vehicles on many routes with low ridership and off-peak hours. Fares should be raised to better reflect the true cost per passenger trip. The Port Authority could offer vouchers to subsidize very low-income riders.
Finally, the Port Authority should begin to cut its costs by privatizing certain functions or even bidding out its smaller routes to private companies. However, that will not happen because the Governor intervened in the contract negotiations and helped the union get a clause in the contract that precludes privatization efforts.
Welcome to Pennsylvania, home of outrageously expensive public services and no political will to do anything about them.
The Port Authority (PAT) is asking the Federal Transit Administration for $70 million in federal highway funds to be “flexed” to cover a projected shortfall in its 2005-06 operating budget. This is not the first time that the Port Authority’s budget deficit has been covered with money originally destined for much-needed road and bridge work. With area bridges and roads in bad need of repair, this is a terrible misuse of road funds.
Many bridges in the region are listed as “structurally deficient” and are waiting for funding to be repaired. One span fell onto Interstate 70. Yet the Port Authority is asking for more money to be diverted away from these projects. Since 2003 Governor Rendell has flexed more than $117 million from highway and bridge repair to the Port Authority to cover budget gaps.
But has PAT done anything to close the financing gaps on its own? Has it made any efforts to reduce spending? In short, PAT has done little or nothing. But it has spent money on capital projects such as the Overbrook T extension, parking garages and the Wabash Tunnel HOV project—all horrendously underutilized and adding to operating costs. Now, to top it off, PAT wants to waste another $400 million plus who knows how much in overruns on the North Shore Connector boondoggle.
PAT wages and benefits are among the very highest in the country. Meanwhile, ridership figures have been in long term decline for years—until recently when they were buoyed by high gasoline prices. But even that is a double edged-sword because fuel costs for the Port Authority have also increased.
PAT is threatening to raise fares and reduce services, which will cause riders to demand that lawmakers dedicate more money to this black hole. It is time for some accountability and rationality at the Port Authority. Service cuts should be implemented especially on the very low volume routes. Shift to more cost efficient, smaller vehicles on many routes with low ridership and off-peak hours. Fares should be raised to better reflect the true cost per passenger trip. The Port Authority could offer vouchers to subsidize very low-income riders.
Finally, the Port Authority should begin to cut its costs by privatizing certain functions or even bidding out its smaller routes to private companies. However, that will not happen because the Governor intervened in the contract negotiations and helped the union get a clause in the contract that precludes privatization efforts.
Welcome to Pennsylvania, home of outrageously expensive public services and no political will to do anything about them.
