NY Daily News Coverage of MTA Capital Plan Manhattan Hearing

State senator throws cold water on MTA's 'extremely ambitious' plan to improve bus stops

BY PETE DONOHUE

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, December 4th 2009, 4:00 AM

A key state senator threw cold water on the MTA's "extremely ambitious" capital plan, including a project to place arrival countdown clocks at bus stops.

Sen. Craig Johnson told a Senate hearing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority shouldn't expect the Legislature to fill the $10 billion gap in its five-year plan.

The Long Island Democrat questioned the wisdom of spending millions of dollars to give bus riders arrival information.

The project would use wireless communications and bus-tracking technology to provide data on electronic message boards.

"Is it wise to spend that money on a clock system when we can spend it on other projects that might have a better impact on mass transit?" Johnson said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/12/04/2009-12-04_pol_raps_mta_spending.html#ixzz0aRVRxOO7