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Photograph of M8 fans by Quinn Raymond
As the NYC Transit announced that subway and bus ridership had reached 2.37 billion rides in 2008—the most since 1965—some residents protested the elimination of M8 bus service as well as other NYCT cuts. The MTA has proposed a series of fare hikes and service cuts, due to a huge budget deficit for next year and future years, and unless the state finds extra funding by March 25, those dreaded "doomsday budget" proposals will be enacted.
Some details about the 2008 ridership levels: CityRoom reports, "The subways delivered 1.62 billion rides, a 3.9 percent increase from 2007 and the highest annual subway ridership since 1950, when the city was packed with industrial workers, military veterans and immigrants" (while pointing out that rides are measured, not individual riders). And the line with the biggest increase? The L, which Bloomberg News called the "Hipster Express," had a 8.5% bump from 2007. The second biggest increase was the N line (+8.1%).
Bus ridership was up 1.2%, to 747 million rides; the Bx12 route, which has the express service, had the biggest increase, with a 9.4% jump in riders. Most of the subway and bus ridership increases occurred during the parts of the year when gas prices escalated.
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To the MTA, it doesn't matter how many people take the trains; to them, we pay too little, and expect too much.
www.forgotten-ny.com
At best your fare only covers 88% of the costs. It is less if you get discounts. That's very good when compared to other transit systems. But, it does mean almost every ride loses money.
The M8 sucks, but I guess it's better than nothing.
I've rarely seen an empty train in the last 10 years, even at night. The MTA was onto something good with discounted Metro cards and Fun Passes. Of course, they couldn't bear to see the public get a break.
The people continue to vote with their wallets and feet for mass transit, but Albany seems intent on putting us back in our cars. The trouble is, there are already too many cars in NYC, and if gas prices go back up again, the situation will become unbearable.
The state needs to either cut other spending (ie, roads to nowhere in upstate wastelands) or find new sources of revenue. Since spending never goes down, the time has come to institute some form of tolls/congestion pricing and a dedicated mobility tax. It's inevitable and, in the long run, good for all of us. Cutting service and raising fares drastically clearly runs contrary to the wishes of the majority, so all of those politicians refusing to fund the MTA are gonna get raped at the next election.
they should cut services to areas where people don't pay for bus rides especially in parts of brooklyn and the bronx.
they probably owe the city millions.
I believe also Metro North set an all time ridership high last year as well. Our area has one of the best public transportation system in the world. You can go NJ, Long Island, CT, Hudson Valley all within Grand Central or Penn Station. It would be a shame to cut services when we should be increasing them. Many projects are long overdue, such as the east side access, 2nd ave line, second tunnel into Penn Station.
Another thing..
I'm all in favor of putting tolls on the east side bridges, congestion pricing, but ALL the money from the tolling needs to GO STRAIGHT to the MTA only.
Now, we all know politicians will somehow get a piece of the money for their own selfish needs and the MTA will find more ways to waste money. Guess what then? The same process starts all over again. MTA crying for more money.
Those bridges are owned and maintained by NYC, why should the MTA get anything?
Those 4 bridges would have to be turned over to the MTA or some sort of deal between the city and the state.
It is essential for the state government to secure the necessary revenue to keep the buses and trains rolling. The alternative is the economic collapse of the city.
Steven brings up a good point. I have no incentive to pay more for my subway fare or bridge tolls if the money is going to end up in Albany. Look what happened down in Battery Park City. They managed their finances well and actually have a surplus so Albany is swooping in to steal it and use if for purposes other than it was intended. I'm sure they would do the same thing to the MTA in a heartbeat if it ever started making money.
I am really stoked about the cuts in service and fare increases...
another problem is poor city planning by bloomberg.
we can't keep building high rise apt bldgs and condos everywhere. this city is overcrowded. now they are extending the 7 line to the west side so they can develop that area with more high rise residences. enough is enough!! we still have over 10,000 empty condos to fill. enough development. we don't need more people coming here and overcrowding our city.
You hit the nail right on the head my friend... Mayor Mike calls the west side of Manhattan the gold coast of the city. In about 30 years maybe. Why the hell do they need to extend the 7 train 1 more stop? The planners have their heads so far up their asses...
Due to overcrowding on the 8th Avenue lines, we need to build the 10th Avenue subway.
Why in the heck don't they just eliminate the 3 train? It looks like it would be so easy to just extend the 4 train in Brooklyn down the rest of that line they both share.
That would leave 2 stations in Harlem to either merge with a bus line, or service with a shuttle. Then, turn some of the 3 trains into 2 trains. The others, you'd retire some of the time, thus creating a savings with very minimal service cuts. The 3 train is half empty much of the time anyhow.