Transportation, civic, planning, labor and community development groups gathered outside of the Nassau County legislature yesterday to call for a robust public process around County Executive Ed Mangano’s proposal to privatize Long Island Bus. Mangano will turn the county’s bus system over to a private operator by the end of the year, but hasn’t explained how this will save the county money. Advocates have been skeptical that this can happen without major fare increases, service cuts, or both.

“Nassau County taxpayers, bus riders and employees deserve a full accounting of the plans on the table,” said Ryan Lynch, Tri-State’s senior planner and Long Island coordinator. Lynch also testified before the county legislature, where he warned that a greatly diminished bus system would mean a less mobile workforce, which could increase unemployment and strain on social services.

Other groups at the rally included the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL/CIO; Long Island Jobs with Justice; Transport Workers Union Local 252; New York Communities for Change; and Long Island Progressive Coalition.

Although Nassau County and MTA currently contribute over $30 million towards the bus system’s $140 million budget, county officials have said a privately operated system could be run for as little as $2.1 million — even though privately operated systems in Suffolk and Westchester Counties receive considerably larger subsidies. So far, the county has refused to divulge information about the three bids it has received to operate the system. Multiple requests for this data under the state Freedom of Information Law have been rejected.

In testimony, Lynch identified several questions that disclosure would clear up, including:

• The county’s Request for Proposals allows a private operator to immediately raise fares by up to 20% upon taking over the service. Do any of the bids call for such a fare increase?
• The RFP only suggests that a vendor try to maintain free MetroCard transfers with New York City buses and subways. Do any of the bids envision that riders would lose these transfers?
• The RFP simply states that “county provided subsidies will vary throughout the contract term” and that “Federal operating funding may become available in the future.” What does “vary” mean for taxpayers and Nassau County’s bottom line, and does the County have inside information about potential new federal operating funding?

While it’s been previously reported that Nassau County would announce a private bidder by May 15, so far no such announcement has been made.