The MTA insists that Gov. Hochul’s resurrected $9 congestion pricing money grab is absolutely vital revenue for the cash-hemorrhaging agency.
But just look to Staten Island for one example of the agency’s real problem: completely out-of-control budgetary bungling.
Staten Island’s long-suffering commuters were languishing in dilapidated 50-year-old train cars, the oldest in the system, until Oct. 8, when the first batch of sleek, modern R211 train cars made their long-awaited arrival.
Residents barely had time to celebrate: Five of the brand-spanking-new cars got yanked from service after just a month on the tracks and are now rusting in a maintenance yard, awaiting repairs for a signal issue.
When will Staten Islanders actually get to use these cars, which cost taxpayers $2.6 million each?
The MTA doesn’t know — just “soon”
The cars are still under warranty, so repairs shouldn’t cost taxpayers any extra cash — nothing short of a miracle, since the MTA rarely misses an opportunity to run up a bill for New Yorkers to cover.
But keeping with the MTA’s MO, the entire process up to this point has been expensive and riddled with delays.
First, the cars’ debut was already nearly three years behind schedule: The MTA inked an eye-watering $1.4 billion with Kawasaki in January 2018 to produce a total of 535 R211 cars, but delivery was stalled by COVID-related production delays, then by technical concerns (cue ominous foreshadowing music).
Then in 2023, six of the seven R211 cars that had been installed on the A and C lines in Manhattan and Brooklyn went out of commission thanks to — shocker! — more technical problems.
Sensing a pattern here?
It sure looks like the MTA is blowing billions (it approved the purchase of another 640 R211 cars in October 2022) on train cars that will either require significant tinkering to function properly or will amount to very expensive scrapyard ornaments.
And the agency has the gall to insist New York drivers must cough up more money for it to waste.
Meanwhile, Staten Islanders continue to pay $2.90 to ride on cars from the 1970s.
Back in June, a (non-voting) MTA board member thuggishly suggested withholding the borough’s new cars completely as punishment for Staten Island’s opposition to congestion pricing.
Hah!
How about the MTA proving it can consistently be responsible with taxpayer money before it gets any more extra cash to burn?