The roads are for sale. So are the bridges, and, for the right price, the ground underneath us. New York Gov. George Pataki is seriously proposing selling or leasing the Tappan Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway for a one-time infusion of cash into the state budget. The buyers, of course, would be able to charge tolls for the life of the lease, or longer.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, whose Chairman, Peter S. Kalikow, held a press conference not too long ago to decry the state’s and city’s refusal to raise taxes or issue bonds to not only pay for basic maintenance (Welcome back, C train!) but to fund the expansion projects that are desperately needed (2nd Avenue subway, East side LIRR access, etc.), is also exploring the yard sale option. The 2nd Avenue subway, which has been no more than a hole in the ground for the last 30 years, is reportedly a likely candidate for privatization.
This privatization hokum is a pretty obvious shell game. Pataki wants to maintain his legacy of never raising taxes during his tenure. It’s his one bonda fide conservative credential that impresses the national Republican party (it’s so Presidential!). Taxpayers still pay for these roads, just more and for a longer time. Pataki’s idea, I think, is a non-starter.
The MTA’s proposal, however, is worth considering. The very first subways and trolley lines were, after all, built and run by private companies under contract with the city. Usually, those companies had real estate interests along the proposed transit lines that were made more lucrative once served by a station stop (why else would there be an 18th street station in between 14th and 23rd?!), and that’s how they made their money. The city-mandated nickel fares didn’t really pay their operating costs and they all eventually went bankrupt. Then the city took over their operations, cheap.
Sounds like a plan. Hey, Mr. Ratner, I’d love to visit your arena, but it’s so inconvenient from my Kew Gardens apartment. But, if you build a subway line from here to there, I promise to ride it all the time. Hey, I might even pay my fare occasionally.