NYC mass transit facing another steep price hike

[IrateCitizen]

MTA asks hike in transit fares and bridge tolls
By CAREN HALBFINGER
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 15, 2004)


Metro-North riders yesterday were upset to learn they could pay hundreds of dollars a year more to commute next year, if the fare hikes proposed yesterday by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are approved by the agency's board in December.

The proposed increases would be a double whammy for many daily riders from Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties, who would face a 12 to 14 percent fare hike for the railroad and a 20 percent increase for a monthly MetroCard. This could, for example, cost a rider from Southeast $561 more a year, with a Croton-Harmon rider paying $468 and a White Plains rider forking over $420.

"That's a lot,'' said Dr. Laura Mechanic, 40, an allergist who commutes from White Plains who could see her $8 one-way peak fare go to $9.25. "It's a lot for me, and it's a lot for all of us, considering most of the trains are old and they're cold in the winter.''

The details about this next round of fare hikes come less than 18 months since the last time riders were asked to pay more, in May 2003. At that time, the MTA raised bus, subway and railroad fares by an average of 25 percent, winning a court battle over it, but losing credibility with riders and transit critics, who questioned the agency's lack of openness and bookkeeping methods. The 2003 fare hike was the first since 1995.

Under the new plan, riders would be paying more for less. Service cuts, to the tune of $91 million, could translate into dirtier Metro-North stations and dirtier Long Island Rail Road trains. Yesterday's proposal — which was posted without fanfare on the agency's Web site — calls for less frequent cleaning of Metro-North stations and Long Island Rail Road trains, off-peak service reductions on commuter trains and city buses, and the closing of 49 full-time and 115 part-time subway token booths. A $1 monthly E-ZPass account fee also would be added. These service cuts, and the fare increases, could take effect as soon as January or as late as March.

READ THE REST OF THE COLLECTIVE SCREWING HERE: http://www.nyjournalnews.com/newsroom/101504/a0115mtahike.html

[russian33]

1. again? bunch of greedy bastards!

I thought last year was bad enough...geez

[Warpy]

7. I've driven in NYC

and while it isn't nearly as nightmarish as driving in Boston, it was bad enough to make mass transit still a bargain at that price.

[soleft]

2. I heard the express bus was going up to six bucks

[KurtNYC]

3. And where do they spend the money? ....

http://www.eboards4all.com/826687/messages/3549.html

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's effort to turn a vacant 32-story office building at the foot of Manhattan into its headquarters has long been regarded by many as a fiasco - more than $300 million over budget and plagued by leaky pipes, courtroom battles, and accusations of cronyism.

And it got worse yesterday, when federal prosecutors unsealed court papers revealing that the man who ran the project for the agency and who received more than $10 million in salary and bonuses had longstanding ties to not one, but two Mafia families.

[IrateCitizen]

5. Corruption and organized crime in NYC? Say it ain't so!!!

My, what ever happened to the NYC of old, the one in which business was always ethical and nobody every tried to screw people over to either enrich themselves or accumulate power?

</sarcasm>

[izzie]

4. But Bush said they got a tax cut and are better off.

I do not know about you guys but I pay more for every thing. About the only thing that has not gone up is my car plates and it also has not go down but the car is 8 years old now. I sure do not envy people in the work force. I am retired.

[leftynyc]

6. This would take me to $200 from $175 (using the 14%)

per month. For less service - this is really messed up.

[IrateCitizen]

8. I'll go from $239 to $273!

I'm all the way up in Zone 6.

The thing is, at least I can afford the rate increase. What about the thousands of people who really CAN'T?

Also, what ever happened to the idea of ENCOURAGING mass transit use in order to reduce traffic and pollution? Pataki's fucking us once again.