Will the MTA Raise Fares in 2008?

While the MTA is still looking at their budget for 2008, a fare hike for next year could be on the horizon. The Daily News talked to MTA CEO Elliot Sander, who said, "I think the whole conversation is a little premature for us to engage in, but at the same time I think it's fair for me to say it's a real possibility." The reason the MTA needs a fare hike? Annual deficits are more than $1 billion and rising and the MTA has been borrowing money to offset decreased funding.

While the MTA has made no decisions yet on a fare hike, Gothamist wonders if they are going to raise the price of the unlimited cards or raise the base fare. The last increase in the base fare was in 2003 and the last increase in the unlimited Metrocard was in 2005. Sandler also pointed out that those with the unlimited card were paying an average of $1.30.

And if you didn't know already, accessibility for disabled riders in the subway is crap.

Photo of the Chambers Street station by smoothdude on flickr

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By tien mao in News on March 7, 2007 8:55 AM

Comments [rss]

citizen

The MTA disgusts me... their service and infrastructure have been steadily declining and they are continually raising their fares.

They have been caught keeping 2 sets of books, one showing a deficit and another showing solvancy...

maybe if they sold Atlantic Yards for market rate rather than giving it to Ratner for a song they'd be able to improve service, cleanliness, vermin, and pricing...

Grammar Nazi

The last increase in the base fair was in 2003…
It's spelled "fare" not "fair."

mg

Spitzer's new MTA chief Sander seems to be doing a better job. The MTA needs a major overhaul though.

joe-boy

What we really need is a ridership strike, that is the *ONLY* way we will get the kind of reform out of the MTA that this city needs. of course, good luck getting everyone to strike.

MT

Someone really needs to independently audit the MTA before they are allowed to foist costs on the riders. They have never been honest with their financials and only come clean when they are outright busted. How can we believe a word they say? Maybe Spitzer should take on the public authorities. That would be a MAJOR reformation.

High-C

I have no problem paying for the bus for the three old ladies, it's that they then don't have to pay for my subway ride in return that really bothers me (like childless people who don't think they should have to pay for public school or rich people who don't want to pay for unemployment).