An on-line petition to restore state funding at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is gaining support.
Late last week, State Senator Mark Grisanti launched the petition for Western New Yorkers to sign in an effort to restore funding to the NFTA. So far more than 450 citizens have signed the petition.
The NFTA has announced plans to trim some bus routes in order to deal with a budget shortfall. But Grisanti said the state needs to restore millions of dollars it has cut to the NFTA just as it has bailed out the transportation authority in New York City.
"The NFTA was cut from operating assistance six times since '09 for a little over $4 million, and considering that the MTA has been bailed out numerous times to asked for $10 million in deficit-reduction assistance, and on top of that also searching for additional megawatts for low cost power, is reasonable considering what happened for the MTA," said Grisanti.
But Grisanti stressed that the NFTA must continue to keep its spending in check without cutting police and services to citizens.
"I understand that we need to cut government spending and although I will be fighting to restore $10 million to the NFTA for vital services, it is still up to the NFTA to have a structurally balanced budget without having to reduce services or the presence of law enforcement. I will work with the NFTA board on passing any legislation necessary that will allow them to achieve structural balance," said Senator Grisanti.
Senator Grisanti's Online Petition can be signed by going on line at http://www.nysenate.gov/webform/sign-senator-grisanti-s-petition-restore-funding-nfta. Grisanti said they are receiving about 100 signatures day.
" I hope to be over 1,000 signatures in the upcoming weeks," said Grisanti.