As political big wigs in Albany agreed to approve a $131 billion budget last week, the fate of the region’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s future is still in doubt.

Legislation to bail out the financially strapped MTA has remained out of reach for lawmakers. And, when they return to Albany this week, they are expected to face pressure from Gov. David Paterson to agree on a plan.

This is a primary concern for minorities – specifically African-Americans – who make up a rather significant percentage of MTA’s ridership. Whether considered to be working, middle or upper income-level residents, MTA busses and trains are used by us daily to get to school and work each day – along with millions of other New York commuters living within the boroughs.

Now that we’ve got that point out of the way, this is why MTA officials and legislators – Democratic and Republican - need to stop acting like brats and reach a compromise this week on a deal that is fair to the tax-payers and not costly to commuters.
“The MTA needs to change its ways,” said Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith. “Claiming that they cannot collect payroll taxes in a timely fashion under their current system is just another excuse to avoid making the changes the MTA desperately requires. If we structure payroll taxes like we do withholding taxes, the MTA can get the funds they need immediately.
But in a recent interview with Gov. Paterson done by Jimmy Viekland of politickerny.com a compromise seems unlikely to happen.

"Now the Senate has a problem, we understand, with the mobility tax," Paterson said. "And many of them would not vote for the mobility tax even if we exempted some of the school districts in the suburban areas, which was a suggestion. So there are Democratic senators who won't vote for the tolls and Democratic senators who won't vote for the mobility tax, and the Republican senators, all of them, who won't vote for anything. So, right now, I think that these elected officials have got to sit down, the senators, and at least have a plan. Like it or don't like it, the Assembly has a plan. The Senate if, if they were to offer a plan that financially is sound, we would certainly consider it."

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is projecting a $300 million budget gap in 2010 - even if it increases fares by as much as 30 percent in June and implements sweeping service cuts this spring.

But without an MTA deal, double-digit fare hikes and deep service cuts are almost certain. With that said, a monthly MetroCard now $81, could rise to $103.

Also under MTA's so-called "doomsday budget," the average fare increase on the Long Island Rail Road would be about 26 percent. In the city, the base subway and bus fare of $2 would rise to $2.50.

“This is an emergency,” Paterson later remarked. “I don’t even like the fact that New Yorkers are feeling anxiety over the fact that there could be 23 and 30 percent fare and toll hikes in the next couple of months. Therefore, I insist that the Legislature work this out in the budget today or immediately and will summon them back here if necessary.”

With that said, let’s hope Albany finds a solution to get MTA back on a steady track – fast.