Along with East River bridge tolls and additional payroll taxes, MTR has learned that improved bus service throughout the MTA region will be a key recommendation of the MTA Financing Commission led by Richard Ravitch.

In June, Governor Paterson set up the Commission to investigate ways to fund the MTA’s operating and capital needs. With the December 5 deadline for the Commission’s recommendations fast approaching, there has been much speculation about what the report will say. Last week, the NY Times ran a front page story citing tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges and a new payroll tax as possible recommendations.

Along with those proposals, insiders tell MTR that Ravitch is likely to recommend improved bus service, including increased investment in bus rapid transit and the establishment of a MTA Regional Bus Authority. The latter would take control of suburban bus systems like Long Island Bus and Westchester’s Bee-Line Bus, potentially ending the annual battles over funding and resulting in substantial service improvements for bus riders. The former could offer near-term improvements in transit service for many outer borough residents out of the subway’s reach. TSTC testified in favor of regional bus and more bus rapid transit at the Commission’s hearings in September and has consistently advocated for more funding for the suburban bus systems (see for example, MTRs 263, 287, 408, and recent blog postings).

Improved MTA oversight, transparency and strengthening of governance may also make the short list of recommendations, according to those who have seen the report.