OP-ED: Happy 56th birthday to federal funding for public transportation

July 2020 marks the 56th Anniversary of federal government support for public transportation. The success of public transportation can be traced back to one of the late President Lyndon Johnson's greatest accomplishments which continues benefiting many Americans today. On July 9, 1964 he signed the "Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964" into law. Subsequently this has resulted in the investment over time of several hundred billion dollars into public transportation. Funding was provided under grants from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration which in 1991 became the Federal Transit Administration.  

Millions of Americans today utilize various public transportation alternatives on a daily basis. They include local and express bus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway and commuter rail services. All of these systems use less fuel and move far more people than conventional single occupancy vehicles. Most of these systems are funded with your tax dollars thanks to President Johnson. 

Fast forward to today where we have the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its various operating agencies, including New York City Transit, Staten Island Railway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Railroad and MTA Bus. Chartered by the State Legislature in 1965 as the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority (MCTA), it was created to purchase and operate the bankrupt Long Island Rail Road. The MCTA changed its name to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968 when it took over operations of the NYC Transit Authority. Previously, in 1953, the old NYC Board of Transportation passed on control of the municipal subway system, including all its assets to the newly created NYC Transit Authority.

In 1968, the MTA also acquired through lease the New York State commuter trackage of Penn Central's Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines, contracting their subsidized operation to Penn Central. In 1976, they became part of Conrail. 

In 1973, the MTA agreed to subsidize the existing Erie Lackawanna Railway Port Jervis service which also became part of Conrail in 1976.

In 1983, the Metro-North Railroad was formed to take over all of Conrail's New York State commuter operations. The MTA took over all service in 1983, as the Metro North Railroad.

In 1971, the passenger operations of the former Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway Company were acquired from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The MTA created a subsidiary, the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, for the purposes of operation and maintenance. It is currently managed by the MTA NYC Transit's Department of Subways. 

In 1979, New Jersey Transit took over operation of the state’s commuter rail services from Conrail. Previously, Conrail ran the New Jersey-based commuter operations of Erie Lackawanna Railway (a merger of the Erie Railroad with Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad), Lehigh Valley Railroad, Reading Company, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh and Hudson River Railway and Raritan River Railroad.

In 1962, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey purchased the bankrupt Hudson & Manhattan Railroad rapid transit system from the Pennsylvania Rail Road. It was rebranded as PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) .

There is also NYC Department of Transportation Staten Island Ferry, NYC Economic Development Corporation private ferry program along with many downstate suburban counties, cities and towns including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange counties along with City of Long Beach and Town of Huntington all provide such options. There are other private bus and ferry operators along with many smaller suburban operators providing service.

In Upstate New York, if you live in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Dutchess, Elmira, Glens Fall, Kingston, Ithaca, Niagara Falls, Oneonta, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Ulster, Watertown and others -- there are municipalities, cities, counties or transit authorities providing local bus service.

In Nassau County, we have Nassau Inter County Express (NICE) formerly Long Island Bus and City of Long Beach bus systems. In 1973, Nassau County purchased equipment, routes and some facilities of numerous private bus operators most of whom were experiencing serious financial difficulties. These private bus operators included Bee Line, Rockville Center Bus Corporation, Utility Lines, Schenck Transportation, Inc., Hempstead Bus Corporation, Jerusalem Avenue Bus Lines, Universal Auto Bus, Roosevelt Bus Lines, Stage Coach Lines, Hendrickson Bus Corporation and others. Their respective farebox income was becoming insufficient to cover current day-to-day operating expenses. They also lacked the funding for purchasing new modern replacement buses along with upgrading antiquated out of date maintenance and operating bus garages. Nassau County followed up that same year entering into a lease and operating agreement with the MTA to continue providing local bus service. This resulted in creation of the Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority (MSBA). Later, Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority (MSBA) was followed by Long Island Bus and as of January 1, 2012, Nassau Inter County Express (NICE). Many of the same routes operated by MSBA. LI Bus and NICE can be traced back to the various private bus operators. Up until 1973, various private bus operators ran service on many of the very same routes customers patronize today.

Suffolk County has Suffolk County Bus, Town of Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART), Hampton Jitney and Hampton Luxury Liner. Suffolk County Transit was created decades ago to represent various private bus operators providing them with both capital and operating assistance in exchange for running various franchised routes within the county. Some of these private operators have included during different times Utility Lines, Coram Bus, Alert Coaches, Suffolk Bus Corporation, EBT Bus and several others. There are other private bus and ferry operators along with many smaller suburban operators providing service.

The ancestors to MTA Bus that operated in NYC were eight private franchised bus operators. These included Steinway Bus and Queens Transit, (which combined to become Queens Surface Bus Corporation) along with Green Bus, Jamaica Bus and Triboro Coach. They all provided service in Queens, Command Bus (previously Pioneer Bus) ran in Brooklyn along with New York Bus and Liberty Lines Bronx Express operating primarily express routes from the Bronx to Manhattan. One could also travel around NYC using their services. More than 11 years ago, NYC took over the franchises and entered into long-term leases for utilization of the facilities owned by these operators. The city between 2005 and 2006 entered into an agreement with the MTA transferring their routes and equipment to the newly created MTA Bus. All of these private bus operators previously received capital and operating assistance from the NYC Department of Transportation and New York State.

Using MTA Metro Cards provides free transfers between the subway and bus. This has eliminated the old two fare zones making public transportation an even better bargain. Purchasing a monthly Long Island Rail Road, Metro North or NYC Transit subway/bus pass reduces the cost per ride and provides virtually unlimited trips. In many cases, employers can offer transit checks which help subsidizes a portion of the costs. Utilize this and reap the benefits. It supports a cleaner environment.

Many employers now allow employees to telecommute and work from home. Others use alternative work schedules which afford staff the ability to avoid rush hour gridlock. This saves travel time and can improve mileage per gallon. Join a car or van pool to share the costs of commuting.

The ability to travel from home to workplace, school, shopping, entertainment, medical, library etc., is a factor when moving to a new neighborhood. Economically successful communities are not 100 percent dependent on automobiles as the sole means of mobility. Seniors, students, low and middle income people need these transportation alternatives. Investment in public transportation today contributes to economic growth, employment and a stronger economy. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments we can make.

What better way to honor the late President Johnson and all that has been achieved these past 56 years in public transportation by continuing funding the federal Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account.

Happy Birthday!

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Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for grants supporting billions in capital projects and programs on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit bus and subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bus and NYC Department of Transportation.