Senator Ruben Diaz should act now to save the Bx4!
Senator Ruben Diaz, is one of only 3 Democrats who oppose the plan to fund mass transit with bridge tolls. Photo by Joan Byron
Here's the deal:
The MTA needs money since the Pataki administration left them in a state where they have this huge debit. State lawmakers have a choice:
1) Service cuts and a fare hike.
2) Toll the East river bridges to pay for transit.
Now imposing a toll is always "unpopular" and I can understand that someone from a district where most people drive over those bridges to work might be scared to impose a toll. What I don't understand is Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. -- He represents a part of the Bronx where more than 67% of households have no access to a car and most rely on public transit. More than 13,000 people in his district ride the Bx4 bus-- a bus that will be CUT if he can't man-up and support this toll and this budget plan. But he's coming out against the toll... why? Because, get this, his staff member says many of his residents take car services or taxis in to the city! What?
“A sufficient number of people in this community take taxis across the east river bridges and it will impact this community,” said Luis Perez, the staff member.
Are you kidding me? Taxis!? I know it's not 13,000 people taking car services. Thanks to Senator Díaz, the Bx4 bus will probably get cut. That bus is packed with people every day. Taxis... not so much.
But is not just the service cuts that will hurt the Bronx. Not having the bridge tolls will be a missed opportunity for the South Bronx. The bridge tolls will cut down on the traffic in the Bronx which gives our children asthma (Highest rate in the nation!) and makes our streets unsafe. The cars that drive through our neighborhoods have a huge impact on our quality of life. Tolls are a fare way of putting some of the money back in to things that help the people of the Bronx-- Like the BX4 bus.
The Bruckner Expressway which runs through the district and the 55,000 weekly truck trips along local streets and bridges associated with the Hunts Point Market alone have been documented as major contributors to the area’s poor air quality. The local asthma rate of one in four children, which has been directly correlated exposure to with truck and car exhaust, is among the highest in the nation.
The Bx4 bus is the most heavily used local bus that is slated to be eliminated due to the transit crisis, with a daily ridership of more than 13,000 people. There are at least 7 senior citizen centers that are served by the bus line. “Diaz, don’t betray our trust / Our people ride the bus”
These tolls are a good thing for the Bronx any way you look at it. So, that's why I went to this protest yesterday. I really hope Senator Díaz gets the message! If you live in the Bronx give him a call: (718) 991-3161.
Photo by Joan Byron