One of the more ironic planning efforts going on in the region today is Nassau County’s study to add transit — buses, light rail, or an automated “people mover” — to the Nassau Hub area, which is roughly in the center of the county and includes Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, and the Nassau Coliseum.

The federally funded study is part of a process that may end with an application for federal funds for a new transit service. But the feds don’t open the checkbook without a close look at the local government’s past support for transit, or future promises to support it. That could be a problem, since the county hasn’t properly supported its existing bus system, Long Island Bus. County Executive Ed Mangano cut funds to the system this year and plans to privatize the system in 2012, likely meaning further cuts. The MTA hasn’t shown much interest in running LI Bus, let alone whatever new transit service this study may recommend.

Furthermore, the Lighthouse redevelopment plan for the Hub collapsed last summer and replacement plans are currently in flux. Mangano wants the county to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild the Coliseum and build a minor league baseball field, but that hinges on an August referendum. Even less clear is what kind of development would take place in the rest of the Hub.

Tri-State has said before that the Nassau Hub needs transit. But with no one looking out for bus riders today, prospects for expanded transit tomorrow don’t look great.