Transit Union says outsourcing transit will lead to poor service
Jersey City, NJ – Riders, working families and the New Jersey economy will suffer from the vetoes of joint state Port Authority reform legislation by the governors of New York and New Jersey says the New Jersey State Council of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU).
Instead, the governors have proposed their own bill, which the union says will result in transit service cuts and delayed construction of a new Port Authority terminal, ensuring that the spoils system will remain firmly entrenched at the agency for some time to come.
“This is very troubling to the people of New Jersey and working families who rely on the early morning PATH train to get to and from work each and every day,” said Ray Greaves, chair of ATU’s New Jersey State Council. “We need a transit system that meets the demands of the 21st century riders and Governor Cuomo’s and Christie’s proposed bill puts our area on the wrong path.”
The Governors have also endorsed suggestions in a report they commissioned which recommends that the Port Authority consider cutting late-night PATH service, and outsourcing to stem the flow of red ink at the agency. However, Greaves says, that would be a mistake.
Greaves strongly supports the position and opinion of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who asserts that, “We should be investing in public transportation, not cutting it. – particularly in Hudson County which boasts the highest mass transit usage in the country.”
PATH is an absolutely vital link between New Jersey and New York City and the proposal to sever ties between the two states from 1:00 am – 5:00 am every morning ignores just how important this service is to late night workers and others struggling to make ends meet in today’s economy.
The suggestion that the Port Authority consider outsourcing demonstrates a woeful ignorance of the studies which show that privatization leads to steep declines in reliability and service for those who most rely on public transit. Greaves points to tales of failed privatization in communities across the country including Nassau County, Savannah, GA; Fairfield, CA; San Diego, CA; and many other cities.
“The governors also seem oblivious to the impact this would have on the economies of their states, which are currently experiencing an economic boom in areas with access to light rail,” said Greaves.
“The real problem is not unnecessary service, or inefficient management. Rather it is the continued subservience of government to corporate overlords who demand special cuts in their already low taxes,” concludes Greaves.