The MTA board approved a new restructuring plan despite not hearing any words of support from the public.
Dana Rubinstein lays the snark on thick while reporting on the recent approval of a plan to restructure the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
The plan will "fundamentally transform how one of the nation’s most vital transit agency goes about providing 2.6 billion trips a year in the financial capital of the United States," according to Rubinstein.
Click through to find the snark, directed at the MTA board because it approved the plan despite sitting through a public hearing in which not one member of the public spoke in support.
AlixPartners created the restructuring plan as part of a $4.1 million contract. "The firm had just three months to come up with a proposal, a time frame that led some management consulting experts to question if the firm’s retention amounted to 'air cover' for whatever politically difficult decisions Cuomo and his MTA proxies wanted to make," according to Rubinstein.
The plan calls for reducing the number of employees at the MTA from 74,000 to 71,000, partly by consolidating the procurement, legal, budget, communications and human resources departments of the agency.
Transit advocates expressed concern that some of the reforms have been proposed to undercut the authority of New York City Transit President Andy Byford.
FULL STORY: Ignoring public comment, MTA adopts potentially transformative restructuring plan
Profiling NYC Transit's New President—Starting the Job Just Days Before a Global Crisis
Sarah Feinberg took over as the interim president of New York City Transit on March 2, 2020. In May 2020, Feinberg rides the subway to a deserted office to begin the work of bringing public transit back from an unprecedented crisis.
New York MTA Reports Service, Ridership Improvements
Capital investments are paying off in increased ridership, according to new data from the New York MTA.
New York MTA Almost Eliminated WiFi on Buses
The New York City MTA has changed the story, twice, about its plans for little used WiFi service on the city buses.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service