MESSAGE
| DATE | 2015-01-30 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] More than MTA shutdwons during weather
|
Scratch my ass and cut the capital budget.
The system has reverted to be crap and an extortion racket for working
people since nobody wants to ride with homeless people all over the
teains any longer.
Ruben
It is time to vote with your feet and leave NYC
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M.T.A. Is Raising Fares and Tolls; One Subway or Bus Ride Will Cost
$2.75
By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONSJAN. 22, 2015
Photo
For subway and bus riders, the bonus for pay-per-ride MetroCards will
increase to 11 percent, from 5 percent, for anyone who puts at least
$5.50 on a card. Credit Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
Continue reading the main story Share This Page
The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted on Thursday
to raise the base fare on subways and buses by a quarter, to $2.75, and
the cost of a 30-day MetroCard by $4.50, to $116.50.
The new fares, which will take effect on March 22, were part of a
package of increases approved for the system’s trains, buses,
tunnels and bridges.
Fare increases have become routine and are scheduled to occur every two
years as part of the authority’s long-term revenue plans. The
previous increase, in 2013, raised the base fare to $2.50, from $2.25.
The subway system has recently seen record use, with more than six
million riders on some days, but the authority is facing questions over
how to pay for long-term improvements to its infrastructure. The
agency’s proposal for a $32 billion, five-year capital plan has a
$15 billion funding shortfall, and the board is seeking contributions
from the state and the city.
Officials have cautioned that if the authority relies on borrowing to
close the capital gap, it could increase pressure to raise fares and
tolls faster than scheduled.
On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo outlined his priorities for the
state’s infrastructure, and said the state would invest $750 million
toward the authority’s capital plan. But he did not address the
larger funding gap.
Under the increases approved on Thursday, the bonus for pay-per-ride
MetroCards will rise to 11 percent, from 5 percent, for anyone who puts
at least $5.50 on a card. The cost of a weekly pass will increase to
$31, from $30.
The authority’s board had considered two proposals for pay-per-ride
MetroCards and decided against an option that kept the base fare at
$2.50 while eliminating the bonus. Transportation advocates had argued
that the bonus served an important function as a discount for low-income
riders who cannot afford weekly or monthly passes.
The authority’s chairman, Thomas F. Prendergast, has called the fare
increases modest, and said they were needed to balance the budget
against the rising costs of providing services.
“I’ve recommended the fare and toll change options that are most
favorable to our customers who use the services the most, our core
constituency,” Mr. Prendergast said at the board meeting on
Thursday.
One board member, Carl V. Wortendyke, who represents Rockland County,
voted against the fare increase. Another board member, Allen P.
Cappelli, of Staten Island, voted against the toll increase.
Because of an improved financial outlook, the adopted 4 percent increase
for fares and tolls was lower than the 7.5 percent increase in the
original plans. Altogether, the changes are expected to generate $210
million for the authority this year.
After the board meeting, Mr. Prendergast said the $750 million proposed
by Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, for the capital budget was the start of a
dialogue.
“I’m very confident that at the end of the day, we will get what
we need to be able to run the system and maintain it,” Mr.
Prendergast said.
Gene Russianoff, the staff lawyer for the Straphangers Campaign, a rider
advocacy group, said the fare increase was a “fair ask for riders to
contribute to the system.” The group was more concerned with
increased funding for the capital plan, he said.
“Our eyes are on the prize,” he said. “We’re really
focused on the $15 billion to fix the system.”
Another challenge facing the authority is the need to replace the
MetroCard with a system that would allow riders to tap a credit card or
smartphone on an electronic reader. This week, officials said they hoped
to unveil the system in 2020 and phase out MetroCards by the end of
2022.
Fares for the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Railroad will
also go up by about 4 percent, depending on the time of day and distance
traveled. E-ZPass tolls will increase by 21 cents, to $5.54, at major
crossings like the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, among other toll increases.
Several board members acknowledged that higher fares would be difficult
for many riders, but that the revenue was needed. One member, Polly
Trottenberg, New York City’s transportation commissioner, said the
increases were as fair as possible.
“I think you all came up with a plan which, frankly, does the least
damage to the largest number of folks,” she said.
A version of this article appears in print on January 23, 2015, on page
A19 of the New York edition with the headline: Transit Agency Is Raising
Fares and Tolls; One Subway or Bus Ride Will Cost $2.75. Order Reprints|
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