Gothamist: Unlimited Monthly Metrocards Face 20% Increase

Robin

Wed, 16 Feb 2005 20:13:02 -0500

So hey why doesn't everybody buy a year's worth of mothly metrocards before the pay hike? I mean the machine's will still accept it as long as they aren't expired right?

Lawrence Littlefield

Sun, 17 Oct 2004 19:18:47 -0500

Just remember, according to the MTA budget forecast by 2007 interest on debts and pensions for those who cashed in and moved out will equal 50 percent of operating revenue. They can use the other half of your fare to run the buses and trains. There are consequences to re-electing those who promise something for nothing and, in the short run, deliver. The entire state legislature and the Governor should be fired.

sp

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:43:23 -0500

the city should take over the operation of the MTA and get rid of all the management. it should be run with the transparency of a public institution.

spraypainter

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:09:37 -0500

They could stop wasting money on anti-graffiti staff and equipment.

Tim N.

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:06:54 -0500

Jen, you are very, very kind, but I must correct you. There are no industries upstate. Trust me, I've been there (unless you count crumbling factories and infrastructure an industry).

Mr. Nosuch

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:54:50 -0500

Being a nerd, I used Excel to figure out how much a commuter would pay if he or she pays $4 a day to use MTA transit on non-holiday weekdays (using stock market holidays if you must know, there aren't a lot.) The total: $1,008 The cost of buying 12 30 day Metrocards at the new $84 rate: $1,008. So basically, if you use the MTA only to commute, there is no savings. The only people who will realize a savings are people who ride on weekends or more than twice a day on a regular basis. This is a much smaller demographic than before.

Doctor Memory

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:34:24 -0500

A few small questions. Answer in essay form. Neatness counts. Cite your sources: 1. What, right now, is the justification for believing any budget projection offered by the MTA, ever again? 2. Who, precisely, got fired and prosecuted for committing accounting fraud by keeping a second set of books? What reforms were put into place to prevent such a thing from happening again? 3. Given the answers to questions 1 and 2, what is the motivation of the New York State or Federal government to offer any more funding to the MTA, ever?

JetPropelledKid

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:14:19 -0500

I think its the state and city's fault. They really need to start giving them more funding as Jen said. Why don't they just start tolling all the bridges into Manhattan? Send the extra revenue from that to the MTA. Give a discount to commercial vehicles. Less people driving into the city, money from the bridges, and extra revenue from the increase in people riding the trains and buses. Whatever happened to that plan anyway?

Gabe

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 12:21:45 -0500

Actually - 5 days a week x 2 rides ($4.00) x 4 weeks = $80 - the new monthly costs $6 more - WHAT ON EARTH IS THE INCENTIVE TO BUY A MONTHLY CARD NOW????? Jen, quit being so understanding of the MTA! if they marketed themselves better and used a better fare system, even more people would take the train. It's things like fare hikes and playing 3-card-monte with the N&R lines that piss people off. It's all avoidable. I suggest you start a petition to keep the monthly a true bargin.

Steve

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:11:53 -0500

Geeeez, an extra $168 a year! How will we ever afford the restaurants in Gothamist Food?!!

Todd W.

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:41:57 -0500

This is all 'cause MoMA increased their admissions price to 20 bucks. MTA is just followin' their lead. Don't let anyone tell you different.

zander106

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:39:10 -0500

Can't anybody do anything to help reform the MTA? I feel like it's in such terrible shape these days. No one from there has ever really answered State Comptroller Hevesi and City Comptroller Thompson's revelations about the secret set of books or explained how the surplus turned into a huge deficit. And with the Unlimited Metrocard up to $84, you're barely saving. Right now at $70, if you only take the subway back and forth to work 22 days out of a month, it's $1.60/ride. With the fare hike it's now up to $1.90/ride. Grr.

andy

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:32:14 -0500

This is has got me thinking of doing some full time turnstile jumping. What's cheaper in the long run - paying 84/mo. or occasionally getting a fine? ANyone know how much a turnstile jumping fine is?

daybird

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:27:48 -0500

The G train in the gangsta lean again. Sigh.

SteveO

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:08:06 -0500

I love these stupid hearings they have. They serve no purpose other than to let the people think they have a voice when in-fact the decisions have already been made. STUPID!!!!