More MTA Pain To Come?

NEW YORK, NY — Unless Albany comes through with a rescue plan, bus and subway fares are set to rise May 31.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, now we’re hearing fares could jump again just a few months later.


The man in charge of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says another fare hike could be headed our way in a matter of months and the only way to change that is to pick up a phone:

“I would encourage everyone to reach out to legislators,” said Elliot Sander, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the MTA.

Already, more than 1,000 calls have been logged to New York Governor David Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, but so far no promises that the Ravitch rescue plan of tolls on East River Bridges and a payroll tax will ever see the light of day:

Facing a $1.2 billion budget gap and protest signs begging members to just say ‘no,’ the MTA’s board said yes to double-digit fare increases, major service cuts and significant layoffs in a nearly unanimous 12 to 1 vote on Wednesday.

“This is an extremely difficult day for all of us — our 8.5 daily million customers, 70,000 men and women who work for the agencies of the MTA, and anyone who cares deeply about vitality and the future of the city and the region,” said Sander.

“The fare increases and service cuts that the board must approve today are the only major tools Albany has given the board to operate the transit system and keep those operations in the black. There are no other moves in the board’s playbook,” added Sander.

Subway and bus fares will rise to $2.50, monthly passes to $103, express bus passes jump to $6.25 a ride, and tolls on major bridges increase to $6.50 In addition to that, Long Island Rail Road and Metro North fares will see hikes of up to 30 percent.

Board members have called the Doomsday scenario a disaster, but say because of Albany’s inability to come to the rescue, drastic measures were necessary.

“It’s a true crisis that cannot be solved by us without causing great pain to the riding public,” MTA Chairman of the Board H. Dale Hemmerdinger said at the beginning of the meeting.

What’s more, it’s almost impossible to believe: at the same time the MTA was approving the Doomsday budget, officials said the hikes and cuts wouldn’t be enough and that yet another round could go into effect in the next year.

“It could well be soon, potentially in April,” said Sander.

April?

The Doomsday fare hikes don’t even take effect until June 1 and the MTA is already saying they need more money.

“Of course we’re worried, that’s why we’re talking about it,” said Hemmerdinger.

The second hit could come as early as next January.

“I think we’re looking at another possible fare hike as soon as the end of this year and if they do it they’ll propose it sometime over the summer,” said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers’ campaign. “I think they’re broke, they’re flat broke.”