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Looks like the MTA may have to make new subway advertisements about how much money you save by having an unlimited Metrocard: Apparently, the MTA is considering another subway/bus far hike. But this time, the fare hike would affect those with unlimited Metrocards. The monthly unlimited Metrocards, which are now $70, would be $73, and weekly pass fares would increase from $21 to $24. The agency has a $800 million budget gap, and the fare hike would be used to help ease that, by raising $300 million. MTA sources told CBS News that service cuts might be used to make up the remaining $500 million; the M, V, J, Z, G and C trains are the lines with the lowest ridership, while the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, A, D, L and Q were the lines last affected in a service cut back in 1995. The $2 fare is in tact (or promised) through 2007, but the budget issues affect other proposed projects, like the Second Avenue subway and moving the LIRR to Grand Central.
Has anyone heard about this? And while this news is irritating, it's one of those things riders are powerless to do anything about, except grouse. The subway is the only way to get there many times. Gothamist on the fare hike to $2 subway rides.
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INFURIATING! Wasn't it revealed last year that the MTA had cooked the books to make it look like they had a budget deficit when they really had a surplus? In light of that, it's hard to take these numbers seriously. Blood = boiling!
in chicago a 30 day pass is $75.
let's not say powerless. the MTA is a public entity that has been shown to be less than transparent. they are "touchable" if people will finally decide they have had enough.
The weekly pass is going to become something for tourists only if this keeps on happening - for $24 on a pay per ride card, you get 14 rides (2 free), eqivalent of 2 trips per day every day. unless you're running a lot of errands during one week, most people are either going to use the monthly or the pay as you go.
i used to get the daily in nyc all the time but when the fare was hiked it wasnt in proportion and the daily no longer paid off.
Hmm...when they found the cooked books last year, wasn't it discovered that the MTA's surplus was $800 million? Problem solved.
And before they start bitching about the services they provide, maybe they should start spending more money on the system to make it safer in case terrorists attack the subway.
Have I mentioned today how much I hate the MTA, and always have? No?
I hate the MTA, and always have. And when I say "always," I mean for a time I tried really hard to find Richard Ravitch's home phone number so I could call him up when I was going home at night and give him progress on my trip. "Still no R train, it's been 25 minutes. How much did you say you were making each year? What color limo do you take to the office, or is it a Rolls?" Funny how they don't give out those phone numbers, isn't it.
Powerless!?!?! C'mon Jen! Straphangers?
This news is troublesome. I heard a rumor a while ago that they were thinking of doing away with unlimited cards altogether, which would be really problematic for those of us that commute on the subway every day.
However, $3 more isn't too bad, just kind of obnoxious in light of the cooked books in MTA's past.
Powerless in the respect that the subways and buses are the only way to go. Sure, I'll complain - we all can - but in the mean time, it's not like we can go on strike as riders. Maybe I'm just having a resigned Monday morning.
i like to swipe strangers in when i'm leaving the subway. do a good deed, get your money's worth on your increasingly more expensive metro card.
Problem is you midwestern transplants who came here and jacked up the price on everything because you just HAD to be here. You and your trust fund ability to pay for things are the problem. Hope you like living check to check. I blame you!
kc: In what way are straphangers not powerless, in situations like this?
The MTA essentially has a monopoly on my dollar, no matter how I feel about their services and prices there is no other affordable transportation option for me.
That being said, I am generally more than impressed that they keep such a massive system running as well as it does, for the amount we pay.
Yes. Surely let's blame it on Midwesterners with trust funds...um. no. I think you'll find the trustfunders are predominately on and from the EAST coast. Your comment was pure nonsense.
I blame it on apathetic New Yorkers who talk a lot of shit, but rarely can organize to enact real change. Straphangers is the true exception.