It's not too late to save $2 subway-bus fare, MTA reveals

[UlmerPark B6]

By PETE DONOHUE

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Monday, December 29th 2008, 7:35 PM

 

 

The $2 subway-bus fare could be saved if the state adopts the transit rescue package drafted by former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch, the MTA revealed Monday.

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has drafted fare-hike proposals in advance of public hearings scheduled for January and February.

 

If the state Legislature imposes new tolls and a tax on businesses as the Ravitch plan recommends, the MTA could keep the $2 fare for riders as long as they use MetroCards.

 

Riders paying with coins on buses or buying single-ride tickets would be charged $2.25.

 

That essentially would create a system similar to E-ZPass where drivers with the electronic tags pay less than drivers paying with cash.

 

The MTA says it could speed bus travel if more riders used MetroCards as opposed to plunking coins into fareboxes one at a time.

 

Under the $2 fare scenario, the MTA would eliminate the current 15% bonus offered by the Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards.

 

The weekly MetroCard would increase to $26 from from the current $25, while the monthly unlimited-ride MetroCard would rise from to $87 from $81.

 

Those are much smaller increases than what would be required if Albany fails to adopt the transit rescue package.

 

Failure to act could result in the subway-bus fare rising to $3, a weekly MetroCard hitting $31 and a monthly MetroCard going for $103.

 

The MTA is projecting a 2009 budget gap of $1.2 billion.

 

Fare hikes of some shape are scheduled to take effect in June while toll hikes would occur the following month. Service cuts could come as soon as the spring.

 

The MTA is legally required to submit a balanced budget.

 

The different proposals

The MTA Monday released examples of how fares and tolls could go up next year - one set assumes there is no state bailout, forcing the MTA to increase fare and toll revenues by 23%. The other set assumes a transit rescue plan put forth by former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch is adopted, leaving the MTA to increase fare and toll revenues by 8%. Any changes would require another MTA board vote after public hearings next year.

 

 

[MTR Admiralty]

That sounds better than paying $3 or say $2.50 for a train fare.

IMO, less than 10% of the commuters pay with cash or the Single Ride Ticket

This proposal will make the commuters even more inclined to purchase unlimited rides. If a person is making more than 4 trips a day, under this proposal, it is worthy to purchase the one day pass ($8).

[Y2Julio]

ugh, why is it that people with unlimited cards always get the shaft during increases.

[metsfan]

ugh, why is it that people with unlimited cards always get the shaft during increases.

 

Because they are the primary load on the system.

 

- A

[MattTrain]

Great stuff, keep the $2 fare, well the single ride ticket will be up by a quarter dollar. I like collecting those tickets, however this should help the sales of the unlimited cards go up. No more bonuses!

[mark1447]

That sounds better than paying $3 or say $2.50 for a train fare.

IMO, less than 10% of the commuters pay with cash or the Single Ride Ticket

This proposal will make the commuters even more inclined to purchase unlimited rides. If a person is making more than 4 trips a day, under this proposal, it is worthy to purchase the one day pass ($8).

yes but why would any1 wanna pay $3 for a single ride, that sounds kinda stupid

[MTR Admiralty]

yes but why would any1 wanna pay $3 for a single ride, that sounds kinda stupid

 

Who in the right mind would want to do that? (Unless forced to, that is)