On first day, MTA Chairman Jay Walder says bus revenues are fare game

[Harry]

New MTA Chairman Jay Walder Monday gave a polite but cool response to Mayor Bloomberg's campaign proposal to stop charging fares on some buses.

 

"Clearly revenues from fares are critically important to the transit system," said Walder, who arrived from London Sunday.

 

"I'm loathe to think of anything that takes away revenues from the transit system."

 

Walder noted, however, that he'd take a careful look at the mayor's free-ride proposal.

 

He said he's is on the same page with the mayor about the need to cut the time it takes for passengers to board passengers on buses.

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/10/05/2009-10-05_mta_chairman_jay_walder_rides_rails_on_first_day_in_office_says_bus_.html#ixzz0T5jSn9Pd

[metsfan]

I think free should turn into a smart card "tap & pay" system after enough time is put into how to properly deploy and pay for the system.

 

- A

[reelbigfish]

Smart cards are certainly the way to go. It does allow people to quickly board. It works well with the CharlieCard here in Boston. The one thing that does still slow things down is allowing people to pay with cash on the bus and letting people add money to their smart cards on the bus.

 

Now that you can add value at 7/Eleven and online, there is no excuse to delay passengers by letting them use cash. The smart cards here are free, so even the less fortunate can get one and add value at local stores if they don't have a computer or aren't close to a subway station that has a fare machine.

 

DC is similar although the SmarTrip card costs $5, you can add value at all CVS stores.