We're in for more than a year of massive transportation inconvenience with the subway track repair and infrequent shuttle service. It seems to me that if RIOC were run by an administration with any real concern for the residents, or if that administration reported to a Governor with any real consideration for his citizens, some solution could be negotiated between these two New York State entities that would provide the necessary relief to its citizens.

When we talk about MTA costs or RIOC costs, we are talking about which pocket the State pulls its money from - bottom line: it is still the State's money. And if it's the State's money, it's your money.

Public transportation is a State obligation; even our current State government recognizes that.

It was, after all, the State of New York that chose to establish this State-run community here on an island in a river in the city. It was the State which chose, admirably, to subsidize this Island community specifically for large elderly and disabled populations, and to promise safe, affordable housing to middle-income families.

The MTA is a state agency composed of three independent authorities: the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and the New York City Transit Authority (great name for a New York State agency!), which operates the New York City subway and bus systems.

According to the New York State Department of Transportation, DOT distributes over $1 billion annually in State Mass Transportation Operating Assistance to approximately 130 transit operators throughout the state. New York State transit systems carry nearly one-third of the nation's transit riders and provide nearly one-quarter of transit services nationwide. Some 88% of that entire State ridership is on the MTA system in the City of New York.

All public transit operating costs are covered to some extent by fares. NYC Transit fares are twice as high as others in this regard. (According to The New York Times, the share of actual costs covered by fares for the six largest US transit systems are: Atlanta 27%, Boston 29%, Chicago 47%, Los Angeles 32%, Miami 29% and NYC 71%. Non-metro-area systems in New York State average 32%.)

The Tram, by the way, even using Jerry Blue's own numbers, covers 68% of its costs by fares, so is hardly the egregious burden he claims it is...even if he could convince a developer to try to market Southtown without it!

The MTA has evidently decided to provide "walking transfers" between at least one shuttle stop (63rd & Lexington) and another station. Next week will show us how workable the MTA's shuttle plan is for our daily commuters. It will also show how many of our commuters elect to use the Tram even without the Metrocard advantage.

For the MTA and RIOC not to be able to come to some agreement over a mechanism for a transfer between the Tram and the subway for their marooned Island population is a disgrace.