FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 9, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 15
HAPPY 56TH
BIRTHDAY TO
QUEENS PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION
Th e success of public transportation
can be traced back to
one of the late President Lyndon
Johnson’s greatest accomplishments
which continues benefi ting
many Americans today.
On July 9, 1964, he signed the
“Urban Mass Transportation Act
of 1964” into law. Subsequently
this has resulted in the investment
over time of several hundred billion
dollars into public transportation.
Millions of Americans today on
a daily basis utilize various public
transportation alternatives such
as local and express bus, ferry, jitney,
light rail, subway and commuter
rail services. All of these
systems use less fuel and move
far more people than conventional
single-occupancy vehicles. Most of
these systems are funded with your
tax dollars thanks to President
Johnson. Depending upon where
you live, consider the public transportation
alternative. Try riding
a local or express bus, commuter
van, ferry, light rail, commuter rail
or subway.
In New York state, downstate,
we have the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority and its
various operating agencies including
NYC Transit subway, bus and
Staten Island Railway, Long Island
Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad
and MTA Bus.
Chartered by the state Legislature
in 1965 as the Metropolitan
Commuter Transportation
Authority, it was created to purchase
and operate the bankrupt
LIRR. Th e MCTA changed
its name to the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority in 1968
when it took over operations of the
NYC Transit Authority.
Previously, in 1953 the old NYC
Board of Transportation passed
on control of the municipal subway
system, including all its assets
to the newly created NYC Transit
Authority. In 1968, the MTA also
acquired through lease the New
York state commuter trackage of
Penn Central’s Hudson, Harlem
and New Haven lines, contracting
their subsidized operation to Penn
Central. In 1976, they became part
of Conrail.
In 1973, the MTA agreed to subsidize
the existing Erie Lackawanna
Railway Port Jervis service which
also became part of Conrail in
1976.
In 1983, the Metro-North
Railroad was formed to take over
all of Conrail’s New York state
commuter operations. Th e MTA
took over all service in 1983, as the
Metro-North Railroad.
In 1971, the passenger operations
of the former Staten Island
Rapid Transit Railway Company
were acquired from the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. Th e MTA created
a subsidiary, the Staten Island
Rapid Transit Operating Authority,
for the purposes of operation and
maintenance. It is currently managed
by the MTA NYC Transit’s
Department of Subways.
Th e ancestors of the MTA
Bus that operated in NYC were
eight private bus operators.
Th ese included Steinway Bus and
Queens Transit (which combined
to become Queens Surface Bus
Corporation), along with Green
Bus, Jamaica Bus and Triboro
Coach. Th ey all who provided service
in Queens, Command Bus
(previously Pioneer Bus) ran in
Brooklyn along with New York Bus
and Liberty Lines Bronx Express
operating primarily express routes
from the Bronx to Manhattan.
One could also travel around NYC
using their services. Several years
ago, NYC took over the franchises
and entered into long-term leases
for utilization of the facilities
owned by these operators. Th e city
between 2005 and 2006 entered
into an agreement with the MTA
transferring their routes and equipment
to the newly created MTA
Bus. All of these private bus operators
previously received capital
and operating assistance from both
the NYC and state Departments of
Transportation.
Additional modes of public
transportation in the region
include New Jersey Transit, Port
Authority Trans Hudson (PATH)
subway, and the NYC Departments
of Transportation Staten Island
Ferry & Economic Development
Corporation private ferry service.
Plus, many suburban counties, cities
and towns including Nassau
Inter County Express, Suff olk
Transit, City of Long Beach and
Town of Huntington provide such
options. Th ere are other private
bus and ferry operators along with
many smaller suburban operators
providing service.
In many cases, your employer
can off er transit checks which help
subsidize a portion of the costs.
Utilize your investments and reap
the benefi ts. You’ll be supporting
a cleaner environment and be less
stressed upon arrival at your fi nal
destination.
Many employers now allow
employees to telecommute and
work from home. Others use alternative
work schedules which aff ord
staff the ability to avoid rush hour
gridlock. Th is saves travel time and
can improve mileage per gallon.
You could join a car or van pool to
share the costs of commuting.
Th e ability to travel from home
to workplace, school, shopping,
entertainment, medical, library etc.
is a factor for moving into a new
neighborhood. Economically successful
communities are not 100
percent dependent on automobiles
as the sole means of mobility.
Seniors, students and low- and
middle-income people need these
transportation alternatives.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
oped letters & comments
Marking July 4 under
protest and pandemic
BY DR. GEORGE ONUORAH
Th is very important annual commemoration of American
independence, instead of having her usual festive fl avor, had
lukewarm fanfare devoid of the usual family pomp and pageantry
such as picnics, barbecues, fun at the beach and trips
to connect with family in far and wide places.
Th e reasons were very obvious: this unfortunate COVID-19
pandemic that has taken the lives of thousands of Americans,
in addition to recent protests calling out what some consider
American history of racism and sadism of police brutality
and politics of leaders not adequately addressing the matter.
Th is particular July 4 was to be a family celebration marking
America’s 244 years of Independence from England following
the 13 colonies seceding to attain political sovereignty.
Again, being that we are in an election year, you get not
just the type of fi reworks we are used to but political fi reworks
of Democrats assailing Republicans for the ills of this
dispensation under President Trump’s leadership.
Unfortunately, some have a lukewarm attitude to celebrating
the Fourth of July, questioning not just how perfect the
American Union is, but upset at recent events, particularly
the police-involved killing of George Floyd, other aspects of
racism and documented history of treating Black Americans
as second-class citizens.
All I can say is that we have a long way to go to achieve that
utopia called “perfect union.”
Does political civility not require all of us to act appropriately
to get along and fi nd the best ways to extend the olive
branch? Aristotle maintains “man is by nature a political animal”
and so is constantly at odds with one another for leverage
and opportunity to get ahead.
Against this background, the American Constitution, considered
arguably the most sacred document in modern political
history, talks about guaranteeing all Americans’ life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. Some may ask what about
justice, equality and freedom to worship and assemble for a
just cause? Th e taste of the pudding is in the eating. Th is may
not be the best time to delve into that.
As far as I’m concerned, Americans still have a long way
to go in achieving that enviable utopia referred to in the
Constitution as a “more perfect union.” In the absence of
attaining that hopeful political ideal, my take is that “all
human institutions are subject to gross imperfection.” Th e
consensus of opinion remains that America has a long way
to go to achieve true unbiased equality. Th e work is in progress
as political leaders must eschew politics and roll up their
sleeves to come together in harmony as they work toward
their ultimate goal.
Th e usual posturing is not the answer, nor are the rehearsed
soundbites that achieve nothing except postponing the
doomsday, if you ask me. Th roughout political history,
strained relationships tarnished for centuries can be rebuilt
and strengthened, but leaders must subjugate their political
ego to want to do it for their constituency and posterity.
In the fi nal analysis, the goal is perfecting a union that,
from its inception, was never perfect. Whatever those founding
fathers envisioned, even with good intentions, remains
a mirage to this day. But the solution is reasonable. People
need to agree and come together to resume dialogue instead
of confrontation that leads to no positive end.
If there is any time to tone down the rhetoric, it’s now or
never. So let’s actually recall and remember what John F.
Kennedy inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1961: “Ask not what
your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your
country.”
And we should all heed the words of Martin Luther King
Jr.. “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character.” With that I rest my case.
Dr. George Onuorah is the author of “A Political Diary of A
Rising Son,” social justice activist and humanitarian
LUNCH TIME // PHOTO SUBMITTED BY LISA IERCI
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