MTA: More Thoughtful Ads

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York City's bus and subway company is some financial trouble. To the tune of a deficit that will balloon to over $10 billion in the next few years. With state representatives stalled in Albany, the MTA has been getting innovative with their advertising to get more revenue. In fact, since 1998, the MTA has more than tripled their ad revenue from $38 Million to $125 Million in 2008. Second Avenue Sagas talked about how they have begun plastering the exterior of subway cars with ads since late 2008. I recently saw another new ad technique that actually cannot be easily replicated elsewhere in the NYC subway system. At Lexington-53St, on the escalator ride down from the concourse to the E/V platform, the escalator has a low clearance and the ceiling is shaped like an arch (in fact, you can hear the conversations from other people on the escalator even though they are whispering, see: http://american_almanac.tripod.com/quincy2.htm). The full-length of the ceiling is plastered with Continental Airlines ads. My pictures are included:



Published Post Number:123/129
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A Lesson in Economics

Recently, the proposals by the Ravitch Commission on how to save the MTA were attacked by numerous politicans in the area for being an "unfair tax" and as ridiculous ideas. Yet there is a reason why politicians always come up with even more ridiculous and nonsensical plans. As Second Avenue Sagas puts it, Assemblyman Micah Kellner and City Comptroller William Thompson suggested a new fee of $50 per year for a driver's license.

Therein lies two problems with their plan. The first would be that people who do not drive would be forced to pay eight times the amount for a form of ID. This may discourage people from getting or keeping their licenses, a threat not only to national security but also to themselves, should anything ever happen to them. And sure, in New York State, you could get a Non-Driver ID, but what if you needed to drive in an emergency or for a trip? Secondly, as Angus and Julia puts it, people would be more encouraged to drive to get back their $50.

Of course, there is still plenty of time for city and state legislators to make up their minds behind the Ravitch proposals before the public is outraged at having to pay more fares while getting much, much less service. The MTA board will vote on it in March 2009, with its enactment in June. Hopefully, by then, our elected officials will saddle up behind the plans that will truly save the MTA...and the riders and drivers.

Politicians at Fault for MTA Trouble

The MTA recently voted to raise fares to $2.50 and cut late-night service and eliminate two lines completely, among other items in so-called "Draconian" actions in a "Doomsday" scenario. However, although the MTA should get better accountability within their organization, politicians should bear the front of the blame for their irresponsible attitudes towards funding for the MTA. People such as Sheldon Silver or David Gantt or the countless other assemblymen and councilmembers who refuse to believe that in today's world, mass transit in metropolises like New York City mandate that reliable, efficient, and inexpensive mass transit is vital to the city's economy and standard of living.

Read about the MTA's 2009 horrible-to-look-at-but-even-more-horrible-when-it-is-implemented budget in Second Avenue Saga's extensive analysis.

(This post was scheduled to be published on Nov. 22, 2008 but was delayed. Apologies.)