Elmont Online

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Nassau County and State Senators lead by Senator Jack Martins, Senator Dean Skelos and Senator Chuck Fuschillo today announced an agreement to stop proposed cuts to Long Island Bus in Floral Park, Elmont, Franklin Square, Bellerose Terrace, Bellerose Village and North Valley Stream. The restoration of bus service locally is being hailed as a major victory for bus riders, seniors, college students and working families.

The agreement was put together by Senator Fuschillo and Senator Martins in the Senate Budget Resolution and final State Budget Agreement with Governor Cuomo. Local Senators Jack Martins, Kemp Hannon, Dean Skelos, Chuck Fuschillo and Carl Marcellino voted in favor of the budget resolution and final agreement.

“It’s real simple, these cuts could not stand. Franklin Square, Elmont, Bellerose Terrace, Bellerose Village, South Floral Park and Floral Park residents spoke loud and clear to the MTA at the hearing. I’m so proud that even in these challenging economic times we were able to put this package together and save these routes for seniors, working families and college students. The bus is a lifeline to our community. It’s how people get to work, the train, doctors appointments and school. These routes are critical components to our local economy,” said Senator Martins adding, “the hit to our local economy and the devastating impact it would have had to our community was unacceptable.”

“We have heard from many of our constituents that depend on Long Island Bus services to get to work, school or go shopping,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said. “They are very concerned that if these cuts go through, they will have no other way to get around. Fortunately, we were able to reach an agreement to avert the cuts and prevent any disruption in service. I want to thank Senator Fuschillo and Senator Martins for their leadership in responding to this issue.”

“A number of communities in Nassau County would have lost bus service entirely, leaving riders who live and work in those communities with no alternative way to get to their homes or jobs,” Senator Fuschillo, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said. “Riders are tired of hearing about problems, they want to hear solutions and we were happy to finally achieve a solution. I’m pleased that we were able to work together with the MTA and Nassau County to prevent the harmful service cuts as well as avoid layoffs.”

The MTA proposed cutting 27 of the 48 Long Island Bus routes this summer due to a lack of funding. The cuts would have impacted about 16,000 riders. The MTA was scheduled to vote on service cuts at its April board meeting. Several hundred Long Island Bus riders attended a public hearing at Hofstra University last week to express their concerns over the service cuts.

Two weeks ago, Senator Martins held face to face talks with MTA chairman Walder and officials about the situation. Martins was joined by Senators Hannon, Fuschillo and Marcellino in the discussions. During the discussion, Senators expressed their grave concerns about the cuts to the MTA leadership.

“I am pleased that we were able to ensure that Long Island Bus will continue to operate at full capacity in Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park and the surrounding areas,” Senator Jack Martins said. “As we go forward, we have to look at ways to encourage mass transit and not cut it. As we look at the revitalization initiatives on Hempstead Turnpike, we are looking at opening a train station at Belmont Park. Long Island Bus is an important component of that very vision. Economic development and job creation are a big package not just little pieces here and there. Everything is part of the puzzle. The bottom line is that we need to create jobs and expand our local economy. Long Island Bus cuts only hurt. They don’t help. That’s why we fought as hard as we did to make these restorations a reality.”

MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder said: "We are grateful to Senators Fuschillo, Skelos and Martins for their leadership in finding a path forward for Long Island Bus and the customers who rely on its service every day. As a result, we will be able to continue operating service at current levels through the end of the year."

$8.6 million in MTA monies, made available by the Senate through the work of Senator Martins, Senator Skelos and Senator Fuschillo, will be utilized to run the bus service through the end of the year. This is in addition to the $52.4 million appropriated in the 2011-12 state budget for Long Island Bus.