NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled a sweeping reorganization plan Wednesday that includes the merger of the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North and the acquisition of private bus lines in Queens, the Associated Press reported.
“The stabilization and expansion of the region’s economy requires a regional approach to the provision of commuter rail services and the new MTA Rail Road will provide that focus well into the 21st Century,” MTA chairman Peter S. Kalikow is quoted in Newsday as saying.
The restructuring plan also calls for all MTA-run bus operations to be combined into an MTA Bus division, while MTA Subway would operate the city’s subway system and the Staten Island Railway. A new company called MTA Capital would oversee all building and expansion programs.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels would continue to operate seven bridges and two tunnels and retain its corporate structure.
The MTA said the proposed restructuring could save hundreds of millions of dollars without affecting service.
In addition, the MTA is considering taking over Green Bus Lines, Jamaica Buses, Queens Surface and Triboro Coach, the Daily News reported. Some to the lines have been hit this year with strikes.
The MTA is planning to submit the plan to the state legislature by the end of the year. It aims to implement the program by Jan. 1, 2004.