The Terminator takes the axe to public transit in Ca-lee-four-nyah

[marmar]

from the SF Chronicle:



California transit officials fight state cuts
Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, November 21, 2008



Sacramento -- Facing a projected revenue shortfall of $24 billion over the next two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a nearly $230 million hit to public transit, with the Bay Area bracing for a loss of almost $83 million.

The governor also has called for pulling the state out of the transit-funding business altogether starting next year.

The prospect has agency bosses and transit advocates lobbying state lawmakers to buck the plan and keep transit funding intact.

"The state's vital interest in spurring economic growth is best served by more robust transit systems, not by crippling local transit operations and terminating state support altogether," stated a letter sent to California's legislative leaders Wednesday and signed by transit chiefs across the state, including the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's Nathaniel Ford and BART's Dorothy Dugger.

If the cuts go through, there's no word on what the impact might be on service and fares. But with BART facing a cut of $14 million and Muni $21.5 million, the choices are bleak. There's always the bureaucratic standby of more administrative belt-tightening, but don't be surprised to see fare increases, service cuts and fewer workers to clean buses, trains and stations.

California transit systems aren't the only ones trampled by dire finances. Straphangers and bus riders in New York City got word Thursday that they will be paying more for drastically reduced service in the near future to help close a looming $1-billion-plus deficit there.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/21/BA6L14951V.DTL&hw=public+transit+arnold&sn=001&sc=1000

[villager]

1. nice "green," anti-global warming planning there, Arnie!

n/t

[LeftinOH]

2. *imagine it with an Austrian accent*..."Public transportation is for losers":

2007/arnold_schwarzenegger_humme_(544x408).jpg

[Merlot]

4. arnie used to be a body builder. That's why he loves the big hummers

Body building (and the supplements and diet that accompany it) really f*ck with your body.

[Merlot]

3. The idea that arnie is some sort of moderate is completely false

he was in on the enron energy meetings and the plan to oust Grey.

He's not an environmentalist, he's not moderate. He's a republican and all that goes with it.

His only redeaming action so far has been speaking out against prop 8. Unfortuantly, he did most of that AFTER it passed. He was probably hoping it wouldn't pass and he wouldn't have to take a stand.

[cobalt1999]

5. There is public transport in CA?

Seems like everyone there is wedded to their cars. Do people even use public transport in CA?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Definitely in San Francisco, and even Los Angeles has quite an extensive

bus and rail system, although nothing like it used to be.

[lame54]

6. As the auto companies are about to fall...

Great timing there Arnie

He can drive everyone around in his Hummer