ROTTERDAM CDTA to stop Hamburg St. bus run Transportation company drops route because of lack of riders BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
The forlorn shelter on Hamburg Street seems a fi tting sign for the ill-fated bus line that has served the commercial corridor for decades. On most days, the small structure by the town’s Senior Center remains devoid of riders, much like the Capital District Transportation Authority buses that pass by it four times a day. Soon, authority workers will uproot the shelter and move it several miles to a stop near the Rotterdam Industrial Park, where more riders await buses. “They’re closing the run down on Hamburg Street for lack of riders,” said Norm Miller, a member of the authority’s board of directors. “There are a lot of bus riders on the [Duanesburg Avenue] corridor from the industrial park, so I’ve asked them to put it in there.” The authority will cease to operate the 358 route as of April 3, bringing an end to bus service on Hamburg Street. Spokeswoman Margo Janack said the bus line, designed to appease riders who lost service following CDTA’s massive route restructuring last year, never seemed to gain enough riders to justify its existence. CDTA expects most of its runs to carry at least 15 riders per service hour. Janack said the Hamburg Street route never managed to grow beyond six riders per service hour. ....................>>>>.....................>>>>.............................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
How do the HSM feel now that they made SURE only democraps are in office and they got sold out by the democraps? SELL OUT! Oh, well. When you get your group involved as a major political lobby, and the people you sell your soul for ignore your most basic need, what do you do then?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
I remember being at a Town Board meeting when FDG said he was going to save this bus route. I wish the Gazette contacted him for comments before publishing this article.
I don't know, does CDTA get any government money? I didn't think that they did. They are trying to make themselves more lean, getting the profit from where it is. If they get taxpayer money and they're taking less, then maybe it would lead more people to be available to own cars. I don't know.
The problem is that the past few administrations in town have done nothing to bring new life to Hamburg Street. Now, the buses won't be running there anymore. Maybe that was another way for customers to get there, but they had nothing to come for.
CDTA hikes fares, NYS-Ride is the ticket for savingBy DEBORAH A. MILES PEF members in the greater Albany area who use a CDTA (Captial District Transportation Authority) swiper card for bus service will see a change in the way they can save due to a CDTA fee hike.
Starting April 1, CDTA swiper cards will no longer be available for purchase through PEF Membership Benefits. In conjunction with the recently announced fare increase, CDTA has decided it must end the deep discount it historically offered to PEF and Civil Service Employees Association members.
Previously, the five-day card, which had a face value of $36, was offered to PEF members for $27.50.
“Years ago, people in the Capital District were unable to participate in the pre-tax transportation program which was restricted to the five boroughs of New York City. At the time the program started, CDTA received the money from the federal government to subsidize tickets to promote greater mass transit ridership,” said Robert Carrothers, PEF director of contract administration.
“That’s important, because CDTA lost the subsidy. In fact, it lost the subsidy several years ago, but continued the favorable pricing arrangement for PEF and members in other eligible negotiating units,” he said.
CDTA’s decision to raise fares and end the discounts was also based on the recent expansion of the pre-tax transportation program available to all New York state employees. This program allows employees to pay for their monthly transportation costs using pre-tax money, which can save the employee up to 40 percent of the ticket cost. In terms of actual cost, state employees receive a greater economic benefit by participating in the pre-tax program than from the discounted pricing, according to Carrothers.
“We have worked with the state and CDTA to try to get more favorable pricing,” Carrothers said. “We succeeded in obtaining a 10 percent discount over the face value, and given that state employees are likely the single largest group of employees using swiper passes, we were hopeful additional discounts could be obtained. So far, we’ve made little progress in expanding the discount, but we are pleased the discount continues to apply to the increased fares.”
Beginning April 1, the five-day pass which has a face value of $55, will be offered to NYS-Ride enrollees for $49.50.
The NYS-Ride program is open to all state employees who are members in an eligible negotiating unit and receive biweekly paychecks from the Office of the State Comptroller. A minimum of two successive bi-weekly payroll deductions is necessary to start purchasing cards. Members should also be aware WageWorks commuter debit cards will not be accepted for CDTA purchases.
Commuting costs are paid through convenient pre-tax payroll deductions that save money each payday. If your commuting costs are higher than the pre-tax maximum of $120 per month, the remainder is deducted on a post-tax basis.
The plan offers flexibility to change your election each month if your needs change. You can order your monthly transit pass or vanpool voucher at nysride.com or by calling WageWorks customer service at 1-866-428-7781
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Interesting, so PEF members can't get the discounted price, so now they're going to get to buy it on a pre-tax basis? Is this going to be available for all New York State residents? If not, why not? Why should they get a special tax break that others don't get? If this is being treated the same as withdrawls for a 401(k) or any other pre-tax savings, then it should be allowed for all, not the select few.
NYS-Ride is a benefit provided to New York State employees as a result of collective bargaining and is sponsored by The Governor's Office of Employee Relations.
Please contact us at (866) 428-7781 (TDD 1-866-353-8058) if you are having trouble enrolling in the program or if you are experiencing accessibility problems with this site.
If I pay the paycheck for someone and they can have it on a pre-tax basis, then I should have the same opportunity.
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