The Legislature also received a report from Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos before opening the forum to the public. The contract with Veolia would provide a better option than the MTA, but it would still pose some financial risk, Maragos said. The current contract with Veolia allows fare hikes to be adjusted quarterly if the five-member appointed Transit Committee approves them. Maragos recommended that that be changed to a yearly review. He also recommended that members of the Transit Committee reflect the affected parties, including riders and employees. And Maragos urged Veolia to complete negotiations with the MTA that would allow riders to continue using MetroCards, which would make transfers to MTA buses and subways in the five boroughs of New York City seamless.

When the public comment period arrived, many concerned parties had to leave, not having anticipated that the hearing would be delayed by two hours. Many were Able-Ride riders who had to give their bus drivers specific times when they wanted to be picked up, Mimi Pierre-Johnson of Elmont said.

Pierre-Johnson expressed frustration with the process by which Veolia was selected as Nassau’s new bus carrier, not necessarily with the company itself. As was the case with many people who spoke, Pierre-Johnson said the contract with Veolia was being rushed and the public hadn’t been allowed to offer enough input on it. “You are altering peoples lives … with just a rules committee vote,” she said.

Others expressed concern over possible route cuts and fare hikes. Joan Lee of Oceanside, who has taken the N36 bus for 34 years, said she feared her line would be one of the first to go. Lee, who was declared legally blind at age 18, said the bus has afforded her the opportunity to lead an independent life. “I have been dependent and independent by bus,” she said.

The N36 is not a crowded bus, Lee said. She believes that many bus lines are underutilized because Nassau residents are unaware of routes that often run outside their front doors.