MTA Releases Worst-Case Plan, Says Fare Hikes A Must

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — The MTA has said all along it needs to raise fares to close its massive budget gap and now they’re saying just how much those fares could go up.

Under the plan, riders can expect to shell out as much as $3 for a subway or bus fare, along with big increases for weekly or monthly MetroCards. There could also be major service cuts as well — a plan that’s not sitting well with many commuters.

“I do monthly MetroCard and they are talking about raising it to $100, it’s a little crazy, you might as well own a car,” said one subway rider.

The agency released its worst-case scenario Monday, otherwise known as the maximum possible fare hike to raise the revenue it needs. And the numbers aren’t pretty.

Bus and train fares could go up 50 percent, to $3. Unlimited MetroCards, which are now $81, could go as high as $105. As for those 14-day cards, they could run you as much as $60, the weekly MetroCard, as much as $32.

Express bus fares could go as high as $6.25 and Access-A-Ride service could go as high as $6 per ride — a 300 percent increase.

“I don’t have it, I wont be able to, I don’t know…its hard,” said one subway commuter.

“There’s no money right now, we are in a recession season so it doesn’t make sense,” said another commuter.

As fares go up, service could also be drastically cut. Whole lines could disappear, like the W train. Other lines would be re-routed to pick up the slack.

“It’s the train I take to work because I live in Astoria and work on 8th street so it will make it a lot more difficult and more trains to take, so I disagree with it but I don’t know what to do to make it better,” said one Queens resident.

In addition, bus routes could change in four out of five boroughs.
The MTA said it hopes it doesn’t have to put this particular plan into action.

The agency is looking to Albany, where the Ravitch Commission recommended other ways to raise transit revenue, like tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges. But that’s a heavy political lift and commuters may not be on the agency’s side.

“I don’t believe them, they have the money. I don’t never believe them,” said one commuter.

“We have no choice but to use it unless we all have vehicles and of
course we all don’t, so we have no choice but deal with what they do,” said another commuter.

Before any fare hike can be approved, hearings will be held in all five boroughs beginning January 14 and will run through February 4.

All hearings will begin at 6 p.m. with registration ending at 9 p.m.