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Protests are expected over anticipated fare hikes for subway and bus rides, and the MTA is prepared to listen. The other day, MTA head Dale Hemmerdinger said "We're not deaf," in response to rider complaints about the boost in prices. Riders will get a chance to test that assertion tonight in Brooklyn, as hearings are held about a jump in fare hikes to $2.25 and a boost in weekly and monthly unlimited passes of 4% and 8%.
The New York Times explains why the hikes are coming now:
Officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have tried to frame their proposal for higher subway, bus and commuter rail fares as a departure from past increases. They say it should be seen as part of a long-term financial plan, with a fare increase next year to be followed by an increase in state and city subsidies down the road.The graphic above is also from the NY Times article. Basically each time a new governor has been elected in New York, a fare hike has occurred within the next year, with the idea being that fare hikes are inevitable so the elected official should face them earlier rather than closer to election years.But if the fare does go up next year, it will share at least one trait with most other fare increases of the last four decades: It will fall into a well-worn spot in the political calendar by coming near the beginning of a governor’s term.
The Daily News had a creative take on the problem of MTA revenue problems: school kids are ripping off law-abiding fare payers. According to analysis, free-loading school kids took $190.5 million worth of trips, but the school system only chipped in $90 million in reimbursement.
Here's where the public hearings on the fare hike are being held.
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People should write to the MTA opposing this fare increase. Not only do I NOT want to pay more, it politically foolish to propose this at the very same time we're trying to build political support for congestion pricing. If we're supposed to be encouraging commuters to get out of their cars, then we should increase the cost of the other viable alternative -- buses and subways.
Dumb politics Mr. Bloomberg!
Gothamist should compare our subway's costs with other large cities. In my experience NYC is pretty standard. In fact, considering the relative coverage and expansiveness of the system, I'd say we get a lot for your money. I'm but this is really not that expensive. If they wanted to double it, that'd be one thing.
In the states, I'm familiar with the following:
DC ranges from $1.35-3.90 depending on where you are going.
Chicago is $1.75-2.00
Boston is $2.00 and I think you need to pay extra for outer reaches.
London is 4 GBP or (>8 dollars). Paris is $1.50 Euro's for a single ride (About the same as NYC) but salaries there are much less, and from the outer areas, it costs way more.
Feel free to keep complaining, but frankly, you probably blow more money at $tarbuck$ and beer than this. It's hard to encourage ridership on mass transit that can't run because they can't afford to. Would you prefer service cuts?
As for Bloomberg, this isn't his fault. Take it to the state if you have to.
the fact of the matter is no one ever wants to pay more when it comes to public transportation. but in this case, the arguments are hollow. new york has the best public transportation system in the united states. furthermore, it's one of the cheapest. $2.25 to get ANYWHERE in the city that the subway or buses go? that is absurdly cheap. hey, if you don't believe either of the statements above, go spend some time in the san francisco bay area or washington dc. both transportation systems are are limited in terms of where you can go and they cost a hell of a lot more than the MTA charges.
This means is the price of a slice of pizza is going up.
Damn!
My salary hasn't gone up.
I will pay more if it means a cleaner upgraded system. NYC sucks compared to any other city on the planet. I asure you any 3rd world country capital looks cleaner and more groomed than this city.
thedroog, you totally have it.
And Amanda, sorry, Paris and London are just as nasty as NY.
A city is only as clean as the people who live there.
London is only 1.50 GBP if you use electronic farecards.
1.50 GBP is still >3 bucks.