Subway Mysteries
Anna.Ma...@gmail.com
Spooky factoids ;-)
o There is an unexplained 24 percent spike in the number of delays
systemwide versus a year ago.
o The MTA is considering a second consecutive year of fare increases
to help close a budget gap of nearly $900 million.
o Straphangers were upset when the MTA announced their train would be
delayed “16 to 30 hours.” Riders were relieved when the train started
moving about six minutes later.
o Delays on the numbered trains, remnants of the city’s former IRT
system, increased at nearly double the rate of lettered trains, 30.3
percent versus 15.5 percent.
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Blast from the recent past: dig MTA Chairman Kalikow's cars.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2393.asp
New York: Tolling Board Drives Toll Free for Life
Transponder perk ensures board members who determine New York toll
rates never pay a toll themselves.
The board members responsible for imposing tolls on New York state
motorists will never have to pay a toll in their lifetime. The New
York Daily News reports that Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(MTA) board members each get special E-ZPass transponders that provide
toll-free driving and do not expire, even when the individuals leave
their position on the board. Tolls in New York City currently range up
to $10 for a one-way trip across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
Former MTA Chairman Peter S. Kalikow has eight of these transponders
that he can use on up to eight of his favorite cars, ensuring he will
never have to pay that $10. Among the perfectly restored classics in
his collection is a councours-winning 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California
Spyder. Another 1961 Spyder in equally fine condition sold at auction
earlier this month for $10.9 million, the most ever paid for a used
car. As for new Ferraris, Kalikow was not satisfied with the ordinary
$265,000 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. He commissioned Italian coachbuilder
Pininfarina create a one-of-a-kind version of the V-12 exotic with
every body panel customized to suit his refined tastes.
Motoring aficionados are not the only ones to enjoy the free tolls
perk. Even the advocates of mass transit on the board can call for
higher tolls knowing they will never pay them. Andrew Albert of the
Transit Riders Council has one permanent E-ZPass. Long Island Railroad
Commuters Council Chairman James McGovern and Metro-North Commuter
Council Chairman James Blair each have two. Board Vice Chairman David
Mack has six, Vice Chairman Andrew Saul has four. The rest of the
board members have one or two. Only board member Nancy Shevell turned
down the perk.