WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. September 26, 2003: A recent Court of Appeals decision allowing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority fare hikes to stand underscores the need for legislation to combat future incidents of public authority abuses.

After we learned that the authority had inappropriately failed to disclose a $500 million surplus, public faith in MTA officials was understandably shaken. State authority and public benefit corporation officials are not elected, yet operate with little outside control – obviously this system can, and did, lead to serious problems. The MTA’s controversial maneuvers have meant double-digit fare hikes for Westchester families. Subway and bus fares were raised from $1.50 to $2. Metro-North riders now pay 25 percent more, and bridge and tunnel tolls rose to 50 cents.

But the Appellate Division ultimately determined that no laws had been broken. And while I am disappointed the courts did not agree with the lawsuits to roll back the fares, the judges correctly pointed out that it’s up to the Legislature to strengthen laws to hold authorities more accountable to the public.

That’s why the Assembly recently passed legislation aimed at ending MTA abuses. The measure I supported would help increase public confidence in MTA operations, provide independent oversight of the MTA, improve the contracting process, and end unjustified fare increases (A.7998-D).

This legislation creates an oversight board and establishes an independent budget office. The MTA would be required to provide timely reports of operating plans to both bodies for review and comment. In addition, the legislation would:

·        Increase the independence of the MTA Inspector General (IG) by having the Attorney General appoint the IG;

·        Require more public hearings prior to major service changes;

·        Mandate a biennial report on the potential for a future rate increase; and

·        Require the MTA to produce annual reports on the safety and health of MTA passengers and employees.

I urge the Senate to join the Assembly in passing this legislation that will help ensure this does not happen again. I am committed to making sure that our public authorities act responsibly and represent public interests, not special interests. Our families were left in the dark for too long – and the MTA got away with unwarranted fare hikes as a result. Rest assured, I will continue working to make sure that the money our families work so hard for is not wasted by mismanagement again.