Trainspotter Posted November 12, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 12, 2008 Straphangers could be slammed with a fare hike that jacks the cost of a ride to as much as $3 next year - unless there's a state bailout, a Daily News analysis reveals. "We could be looking at the mother of all fare hikes," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign. "This whopping increase would likely be coupled with very serious service cuts. In plain English, it could be lots more out of your pocket for the joy of more crowding, longer waits and less reliable service." The $2 base fare is the MTA's most likely target because it hasn't climbed in five years, while unlimited-ride MetroCards have been boosted three times, most recently in March. At the time, critics howled that regular riders were being forced to dig deeper, while out-of-towners - who tend to pay per ride - were let off the hook. Melissa Garcia, 22, a college student from Washington Heights, shuddered at the thought of paying more to ride the subways. "The economy is in shambles," she said. "There are no jobs. The price of food is going up. Now, they want to hit us up with this? Please. It's horrendous." Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Elliot Sander said Monday the authority's budget crisis will force it to impose "Draconian" fare hikes and service cuts without an additional $800 million. Even after making cuts, the MTA will be short about $600 million, agency figures show. Filling that gap would require a 24% fare hike for MetroCards, train tickets and tolls - if the MTA applied the increase evenly across every category. The agency hasn't tended to do that in the past, however. Instead, the MTA is expected to take aim at the base fare for the biggest percentage increase - bumping it to $2.50 or even $3, a Daily News analysis shows. An MTA spokesman declined to comment on the figures. Already grappling with a huge state budget gap, Gov. Paterson formed a commission to find the MTA more money, such as adding tolls on the now free East River bridges or imposing more taxes. Recommendations are due next month. The MTA has to come up with a balanced fiscal 2009 budget by the end of the year. Even if the fare leaps to $3, most riders don't pay the full amount. The current average cost of a ride is about $1.35; the vast majority of riders get discounts, either by buying at least four rides at a time or using unlimited-ride MetroCards. Still, the possibility of a 50% hike in the base fare did not sit well with riders. "I'm on the borderline of middle class and poor," said Bryan Tate, 36, a mail carrier from Brooklyn. "You can't just keep taxing us, fare-hiking us, and asking us for more and more without eventually breaking us," Tate said. "It's not fair. You have these Wall Street executives throwing a party with [money they got in] a bailout and we're left holding the bag." BY PETE DONOHUE DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER November 12th 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Glen Posted November 12, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 12, 2008 This is bullcrap. I'm sick of this BS. $3 to ride a subpar system is unacceptable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #3 Posted November 12, 2008 So would that mean another hike for Unlimited Card users? I hope not. I already got shafted by the last hike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted November 12, 2008 Share #4 Posted November 12, 2008 3 dollar swipe = my pants on fire while wearing a yankees shirt barefoot & juggling rats i find in trackbed. Basically either it won't happen or i'm not gonna let it. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #5 Posted November 12, 2008 3 dollar swipe = my pants on fire while wearing a yankees shirt barefoot & juggling rats i find in trackbed. Basically either it won't happen or i'm not gonna let it. - A Unless you own a car and can afford gas, you WILL pay it and the MTA knows it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted November 12, 2008 Share #6 Posted November 12, 2008 Unless you own a car and can afford gas, you WILL pay it and the MTA knows it. Oh no no my friend. I don't have to go to nyc. I am just as happy looking on from the NJ side of the hudson. Not the same, but not lame. Plus, if i want to go to nyc i'll take PATH to 33rd st and stick to midtown, no subway needed, i can walk. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #7 Posted November 12, 2008 Oh no no my friend. I don't have to go to nyc. I am just as happy looking on from the NJ side of the hudson. Not the same, but not lame. Plus, if i want to go to nyc i'll take PATH to 33rd st and stick to midtown, no subway needed, i can walk. - A Do you plan on walking to Citi Field from 33rd Street? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted November 12, 2008 Share #8 Posted November 12, 2008 Do you plan on walking to Citi Field from 33rd Street? LIRR. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #9 Posted November 12, 2008 LIRR. - A The money still goes to the MTA So much for you "boycotting" over the possible new fares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted November 12, 2008 Share #10 Posted November 12, 2008 The money still goes to the MTA So much for you "boycotting" over the possible new fares. Nah, jus' th' subway metrocard part. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duelingdragons Posted November 12, 2008 Share #11 Posted November 12, 2008 Yikes. Good thing I'll eventually have a job w/ the MTA. I'll pay nothing more than the energy it takes to swipe my badge. Lol... =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knice1187 Posted November 12, 2008 Share #12 Posted November 12, 2008 $3! thank god i got a free metrocard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #13 Posted November 12, 2008 Yikes. Good thing I'll eventually have a job w/ the MTA. I'll pay nothing more than the energy it takes to swipe my badge. Lol... =) The fare hike will probably be in effect before either one of us starts working for the MTA. *sigh* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonOfAllBuses Posted November 12, 2008 Share #14 Posted November 12, 2008 Unless you own a car and can afford gas, you WILL pay it and the MTA knows it. My ass! I am a Metro DPS officer, If I dont want to use my car and want to take the bus of subway I will! and guess what... I aint payin! MTA Police will stop me, but will later let me go when they see that I work with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #15 Posted November 12, 2008 Auxiliary cop? Lulz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonOfAllBuses Posted November 12, 2008 Share #16 Posted November 12, 2008 Auxiliary cop? Lulz Actualy, I have my own company, and we carry firearms, YAA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #17 Posted November 12, 2008 Actualy, I have my own company, and we carry firearms, YAA! You should still pay for the fare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonOfAllBuses Posted November 12, 2008 Share #18 Posted November 12, 2008 You should still pay for the fare. Meh... I probly wont but I'll Think about it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted November 12, 2008 Share #19 Posted November 12, 2008 Meh... I probly wont but I'll Think about it... I would think about it Wouldn't want the MTA to get complaints about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonOfAllBuses Posted November 12, 2008 Share #20 Posted November 12, 2008 Meh... wont bother me none... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
via White Plains Road Posted November 12, 2008 Share #21 Posted November 12, 2008 That is a damn shame...... is so greedy.....they claim they are "broke", but they ordering so much demo buses and ordering new trains. They can find other ways to get money other than raising the fares to $3....that is utterly ridiculous and selfish. =Money Taking blankity blank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RokuSix Posted November 12, 2008 Share #22 Posted November 12, 2008 If I have to pay any more than two dollars to ride the train or bus, I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay local. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radioguy Posted November 12, 2008 Share #23 Posted November 12, 2008 $3! thank god i got a free metrocard Don't they now have half-fare student cards too? I wonder if they'll make them all that way soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted November 13, 2008 Share #24 Posted November 13, 2008 Student cards are only valid during certain times of the day, and not on weekends. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radioguy Posted November 13, 2008 Share #25 Posted November 13, 2008 Student cards are only valid during certain times of the day, and not on weekends. - A Actually, there are several kinds. The one you're probably most familiar with is there standard green unlimited one that has three trips and transfers per day. (Also in orange for the younger kids) Then there are "pay-per-ride-like" separate 2 trip cards (presumably for weekend use). The one I'm referring to is like the first one, but doesn't provide full fare. I've seen these only in the last few years, and I wondered if the MTA was introducing them to phase out the total bus pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.