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Now that a political accord has been reached to bring congestion pricing to New York City that makes driving into the city more expensive, the city is turning its attention to mass transit riders, and the MTA is proposing a fare hike for buses, subways, and other area transit railways. The story at CBS 2 News notes the irony that Mayor Bloomberg sold his congestion pricing plan to New Yorkers by heavily emphasizing that revenues extracted from drivers would be used to prevent a fare hike for bus and subway riders, but news of a fare hike came literally within hours of the successful compromise to enact his plan.
"We need the monies to pay the people who work for our mass transit system for the MTA. We want to be able to hold the fares down because you don't want to have disincentives for people to take mass transit," Bloomberg said Sunday.
Mayor Bloomberg was uncharacteristically silent when asked about the MTA's announcement, refusing to even acknowledge a reporter as he conferred with his press secretary, posed for a picture with a fan, then walked briskly to his car. MTA CEO Elliot Sander remarked on a fare hike, "I've always said it was a real possibility." Gov. Spitzer sounded pragmatically positive regarding a price increase for riding the subway and buses, saying, "Everything has to be considered."
NY1 reports that the MTA will discuss a fare hike during a meeting to discuss its finances scheduled for next week. The organization is attempting to figure out how to deal with budget deficits, a need for capital improvements to the subway system, and how to finance the construction of the 2nd Ave. subway. Any hike would likely go into effect some time next year and would be the first since 2005. No cuts to service are being discussed. The size of the proposed hike has not been determined.
(MetroCard, by Triborough at flickr)
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Hooray, today's shitty editing is brought to you by wcbstv.com. (It would be OK to correct that Bloomberg quote. While the mayor does speak in a monotone, he doesn't go so far as to omit the pauses between sentences.)
Hooray, now we will get to pay more to ride even more crowded subways.
Is this city ever going to get serious about funding mass transit? Instead of raising the fare, why don't they use all bridge and tunnel tolls to fund capital improvements?
Does anyone really think that this congestion pricing money is actually going to go to mass transit?
when is the city going to just cut loose the transit workers union? You get better service at a fast food joint staffed by teenagers and ex convicts.
i knew this would happen as soon as there was some movement on congestion pricing. its called take out the competition and then charge through the roof. The reason I knew this, is the scheme did not require the money to be put into mass transit, it was only touted that way. What the mayor said and what is actually written in the bill didn't jive. As soon as they got some movement, the first thing they talk about is bringing the cameras online (which the NYPD has wanted for years) and increasing fares. Nice job doomberg.
4 -- so true, they should automate the system and have a cop stationed in the station (we pay for 1000s of them anyway.)
Never trust bloomberg.
I hate this city. I hope more steam pipes explode.
You people whine too much. No doubt the MTA is corrupt as is Albany. But there is no free lunch. MTA employees are really, really well paid. They get great benefits. The money has to come from somewhere. It would be nice if the income tax hit the truly rich but the politicians in Albany and DC define rich as making $200,000 a year. How about extra high tax brackets for those making seven and eight figures? How about closing the loopholes that allow the hedge fund and private equity guys to pay the capital gains tax rates? Close the loophole that is allowing the Blackstone founders from getting $3 billion tax free. How about we stop giving tax breaks to banks to stay in Manhattan? It's not like they are going to leave. The top officers all love the prestige of a Manhattan address.
FYI, a Senate committee overwhelmingly approved a tax increase on cigarettes from 41 cents to a dollar a pack.
Tracer is right, nobody believes the subway is ever going to get better. Its like rent, always goes up, never down. What? You think they will come more often? Be less crowded? No as many service changes? Of course not. What if everyone paid the congestion charge and it didnt reduce traffic? Then what? Anyone ever think of that? Its not about reducing cars, its about getting money.
He fooled you guys once again.
What if everyone paid the congestion charge and it didnt reduce traffic?
Still, who cares? We will have the money from people who can afford to pay and had every opportunity to take mass transit. It's like the cigarette tax. Cigarette smoking has declined. It's probably mostly because of fear of cancer rather than the tax but if a bunch of idiots want to keep smoking a pack a day so be it.
12 -- yeah great, until they decide you can afford to pay too, hence the MTA increase. you're ridiculous. NYC takes in more taxes than any place in the country... more than most states, but still the money manages to go down the toilet. It's time to stop the grabbing and start making large cuts in gov't personal. Also why do city councilmen make 6 figure salaries for a part time job? Still cant figure that one out. They have plenty of $$$ if they didnt waste almost every cent.
We gotta do what Newark's booker is doing,
the city's budget says we don't have enough money, we are laying off government workers. we are cutting the fat.
[12] - I have to agree, I thought Bloomberg would have been the one to get some control of the situation, but instead he's compounded it. Thank god for term limits.
oops, typo. I meant I agree with 13, definitely not 12. Before the city takes in another cent, start cutting the fat. All we here about is salary increases for every city employee. I haven't received one in years, yet my taxes keep going up.
#12 responding:
NYC takes in more taxes than any place in the country... more than most states,
Which has what to do with anything? New York has more than 10 times the population of Vermont, for example and has entirely different spending needs. Let's focus on the city. Of course they waste money. I would love to cut waste but the reality is that we have a unionized work force that is nearly impossible to reduce and that has great pay and benefits. If you want to save money get someone on the task of reducing the cost of healthcare and you would see the budget growth plateau. Tell me what you would cut today.
And for you people that hate Bloomberg and Giuliani had better hope that a Democrat doesn't win the next mayoral election. After a six month campaign of kissing union ass and taking their money do you think you're going to cut waste.
yet my taxes keep going up.
How is that? Bush cut federal rates. State and city rates haven't changed. I believe the sales tax fell over the last ten years. Property tax rates are down. So if your taxes are going up it probably means you are earning more and your house is worth more.
number 12 is a big prick know it all.
I'm surprised he didn't use the big prick buzzwords,
supply and demand, capitalisma, blah blah blah blah blah.
Taxes down, deaths up, me don't care because me not dying, you die 4 me.
number 12 is a big prick know it all.
I'm surprised he didn't use the big prick buzzwords,
supply and demand, capitalisma, blah blah blah blah blah.
Taxes down, deaths up, me don't care because me not dying, you die 4 me.
Insane much?
signed,
#12
the big prick is back. you big pricker.
If you have a point to make I would love to hear it. Lashing out with insults says you can't even put together a coherent argument.
Back again, your high prickness.
If you think I'm getting mad or feeling insulted, think again. We're here laughing at you. You're funny but in a sad way, like the crazy guy wandering down the sidewalk screaming at nothing. The best part is that online I don't have to worry about the possibility of you getting violent. Shine on you crazy diamond.
Fare hikes suck, but it's been 5 years, and inflation hasn't stopped. Most major transit systems are around $2 now... London is a whopping £4 ($8). Hopefully, though, congestion pricing will pump billions in, that should definitely be a condition for the use of the revenues... unfortunately, it won't be implemented for a couple years at least.
I'm rubber you're glue, whatever bounces off me, sticks to you. you know you're arguing with a crazy person, right? What does that say about a person who's soooo small that he needs to argue with a crazy person on the Internet. who's insulted now?
I think the point was that Bloomberg pulled a fast one by claiming the outrageous congestion fee would eliminate the need for a fare hike. Either he is an out and out liar or he's not very well informed. The trouble with billionaire politicians is that they can't even imagine what it's like for a middle class citizen to worry about putting food on the table. They just assume that everyone is as rich as they are because they don't know any middle class people or want to know them.
like #3 said
Does anyone really think that this congestion pricing money is actually going to go to mass transit?
The congestion pricing is just another way for the city to make money.
17 -- "Which has what to do with anything? New York has more than 10 times the population of Vermont, for example and has entirely different spending needs."
Per capita, dumb ass, it takes far more taxes than any other location, period.
"yet my taxes keep going up.
How is that? Bush cut federal rates. State and city rates haven't changed. I believe the sales tax fell over the last ten years. Property tax rates are down. So if your taxes are going up it probably means you are earning more and your house is worth more."
huh? Bloomberg raised property taxes 20% a couple of years ago, and they've gone up every year since, same with the city income tax brackets.
You must be slightly retarded.
So in other words their will be a fare increase in the near future and the Mayor is trying to "Soften" the blow !I see the [70]'s making a comeback if things in this city continue progressing this path . It's getting to the point where as it's just to damn expensive to live here . The subway's flood when we get measurable rainfall, The Gothamist staff (well about [80]% of them) Commit more grammatical errors then a PC crashing on Viewpoint ! What's next ? The City will be handing out vouchers to cover the cost of riding the Buses, & Subway's ! Posted by; "Still Not Amused"
Sadly this not surprising.
Want to reduce congestion and encourage mass-transit? I'd like to see either a massive sea-change improvement in quality and service of the entire mass transit system (less likely IMO), or no fare at all.
Without fares, the system would run with almost only security personnel, so we'd save a bunch of capital. Even if it took a property tax to fund the rest, the result would be a mass-transit system everyone pays for. Of course if you also wanted to pay for a personal vehicle, you can do that too.
nah, 17 is probably a leech living off of public services so these increases are meaningless and unknown to him and probably beneficial. he most likely has no desire to make anything of himself and feels a sense of entitlement to the fruits of other peoples efforts.