July 4, 2009
MTA board strips emergency workers of free E-ZPass
- September 25, 2008
By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff WriterMore stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com
After a contentious debate and close vote, the MTA board Wednesday agreed to yank free E-ZPasses being used by the city's police and fire departments during official business.
A 7-to-6 vote revoked about 22,000 free E-ZPasses, paving the way for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to net about $10 million in toll revenues, mostly from the city. Board members representing the city battled against the measure, calling it "a backhanded way to get money."
"I hope that before we ask anyone to reach into their pockets ... that we look especially hard at other ways that we can cut our own budget," said board member Jeff Kay, a city appointee.
It will take about six weeks until the MTA begins charging the agencies, which will prepay their passes. The move comes on the heels of MTA officials ordering each of their departments to draft budget slashing proposals that could include service cuts if the economy worsens.
The backlash from the mayor's office began almost immediately.
"If they want more money, they should be forthright and ask, instead of lamely disguising this as E-ZPass reform," said Mark LaVorgna, a mayoral spokesman. "The MTA should get their own house in order before they start charging police cars, fire trucks and ambulances tolls while they are protecting the public."
Other board members saw the move as necessary for the MTA, particularly after it proposed a fare hike for next year to help bridge an almost $1 billion deficit.
"I want to be able to say to all of the hard working people that use our system and pay their two dollars every day that the MTA is not giving a free ride to anyone, not board members, not anyone," said Doreen Frasca, a New York gubernatorial appointee.
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