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Yet another disappointing idea from the MTA: The MTA is considering taking away the fare discounts for its unlimited Metrocards as well as cards over $10 in value. Why? Its looming $840 million deficit. Citizens' transit advocacy groups argue that the customer loyalty formed after the MTA's push for the use of Metrocards, especially in bulk-ride, discounted form (about 6 million of the 7.1 million MTA riders use discounted Metrocards) will be compromised if discounts take effect. The agency is still weathering ill will after raising transit fares from $1.50 to $2 this past year; even though discounting fares does impact the MTA's bottom line, lost revenue from discounts is small relative to "soaring pensions and capital costs and dwindling government subsidies." While riders will complain, we don't have many other options beyond on the MTA to take us to work or play.
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wait up. Me confused. Weren't they almost forced to roll back the fare hike because they were secretly hiding a budget surplus? So now I am supposed to fall for an "$840 million deficit"? Uh-huh.
grrrrr.
Nice contrast to the current ad campaign running on the subways, where the MTA encourages the purchase of unlimited cards, touting the significant savings. Maybe they should ad a 'for a limited time only!' sticker. Bastards.
(And speaking of the MTA ads - who do they hire to write those things?!? So awful.)
Wait, so how would the unlimited cards work? They would just get rid of unlimited cards? Or just charge more for them?
Ergo: stock up on $80 pay-per-ride MetroCards now. When they expire, you can roll them over to a new card (within a year of expiration).
Not only should they not take the discount away, they should take a page out of the MBTA's playbook and offer rebates when your train is more than 30 minutes late.
Maybe if they stopped repainting the Union Square subway station columns every three days (I swear that they are red and green today), they would have less of a deficit.
Maybe we should all learn how to rollerblade.