The impending cuts to the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority are unacceptable. Central New York has poured money into its tourism industry, but neglected its public transportation services. Centro should pursue filling it budget hole with funds allocated to the New York State Fair.

Centro is facing a $4.5 million dollar deficit due to rising healthcare costs, necessary operational fees and limited state funding. If the budget hole is not closed, Centro officials are considering cutting bus routes after 9 p.m. on weeknights, after 7 p.m. on Saturdays and eliminating services altogether on Sundays and holidays. The authority is also considering ending unlimited ride passes. These changes would go into effect as early as April 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year.

These cuts would drastically affect transportation for many Syracuse residents, and eliminating the unlimited passes would affect those who are most dependent on the bus system.

All parties are in agreement that the cuts would have a negative impact on the city. On Thursday around 100 representatives of Syracuse employers and unions took to Syracuse Common Council to voice their concerns of the proposed cuts.

One of the solutions suggested at the public meeting was for Centro to seek a subsidy on the services it provides the New York Sate Fair. Centro officials should seriously consider this solution.

Public transportation is integral to the city’s economy and limiting night services would impact people getting to and from work. And it will inevitably affect some employees within the tourism industry that the city is working so hard to build up.

State officials should also help Centro. Gov. Andrew Cuomo assessed the need to support central New York in his State of the State address and outlined a plan to give $50 million to the New York State Fairgrounds. Some of this funding should be allocated to Centro, as its services help provide transportation to the fair.

Centro will host the next public hearing about these impending changes on March 11 at the OnCenter. Hopefully by then it will be closer to finding funding that will keep the current bus schedule active.

Centro services cannot incur these drastic scheduling changes, and it should seek the necessary $4.5 million budget gap from the New York State Fair.

Published on February 23, 2015 at 1:25 am