Bloomberg: Expect Bigger Fare Hikes, More Service Cuts

Photograph by nschaden on Flickr

With the MTA facing a $400 million budget gap—even if it implements "Doomsday" service cuts and a 7.5 percent fare hike—Mayor Bloomberg warned straphangers yesterday that commuting will likely become more tedious, more expensive, or both. According to the Post, the Mayor said state legislators must "come up with some ways to fund the MTA, or the MTA is either going to have to raise rates dramatically or cut back service dramatically—or, what's more likely, some combination of the two,"

Following the revelation that a payroll tax created last year to help bailout the agency hasn't provided as much revenue as anticipated, MTA board members say a fare hike is the only answer. "As much as it pains me to have to do another fare hike, there are precious few options at this point," one board member told the tabloid. "Looking at the reality of where we are financially, I don't know how we go about continuing to provide service without the fare hike."

Despite repeated requests from transit activists, the MTA doesn't seem interested in redirecting $140 million of federal stimulus money from construction projects to day-to-day operations in order to keep buses and trains running without service cuts or fare hikes. "We still think it's a bad idea to use capital dollars," said MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin. "That said, we are required to have a balanced budget and everything needs to be on the table."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on February 5, 2010 1:51 PM

Comments [rss]

Peter

Didn't they just make a big thing about the $2.1 Billion 7-Line extension the other day, with Bloomberg all excited about it?

I understand if MTA is in the hole and we need to pay a little more, but doesn't it seem like a waste to spend all that money adding two stops to the 7 when (on paper) that money could cover the $400 Million budget gap five times over?

Anyone but Obama

MTA employees are eating the MTA from the inside out with their salaries and pension. Of the top five highest paid employees, TWO of them are car repairmen. One made $283,000 in 2008. That’s only $7,000 less than the HEAD of the MTA. Another car repairman made $275,000. They both have base salaries of $63,000. Are there even enough hours in a year to make that much overtime? If these guys are near retirement, their pensions will be more than DOUBLE their regular salaries.

There’s also a car inspector in the top five who made $276,500 with a base salary of $71,600. LIRR conductors and engineers (they drive the trains) are making about $150,000 a year with base salaries of $73,000 a year. A few of them are over $200,000 a year. NYPD cops would quit their jobs in a second to be a cop on the LIRR or Metro North. They make around $150,000 and more.

This is why MTA needs to raise the rates all the time. This has been reported many times and no one seems to be able to do anything about it. It isn’t only MTA, it’s the whole government. We’ll never balance any budgets as long as they trim from the bottom every time they make cuts. See MtaSalaries.com for more info about this.

endsim

Cut paper towel use down by half. Save 52 million a year.

http://www.subwaydouchery.com/post/356439322/subway-douchery-takin-care-of-business

wow 14th street

Dear Buttface,

Access a Ride was created for the disabled who do

not have access to most public transportation.

Try being painfully disabled and wishing to go from Queens to a hospital that treats your disease in Manhattan.

I bet you do not see many wheelchair bound folks on the

Subway and few on the bus.

A private ambulance service charges $500-$800 for the ride.

If Access A Ride is abused , that is bad.

Butt the good it does ill & aged citizens is welcomed.

McFister

Oh just hike the fucking fair and shut up about it.

gawkthis

every year the MTA is out of money; every time they raise the fares and/or cut service, yet in 6 months they're out of funds again, but the work renovating the B&D lines continues for decades. the 2nd ave subway project continues forever, and the escalators at Columbus Circle take a year to repair..

i might be less opposed to continuous fare hikes IF THEY ACTUALLY COMPLETED A PROJECT ONCE AND A WHILE.

during the last 40 years the only transit initiatives that I've ever seen the MTA complete, were to obtain fare and budget increases...

inoyourider

Fuck the MTA and EVERYONE that works for it.

hunter.blatherer

They should do a zone system: pay by how far you travel.

ilovejapgirls

It's time to move to Canada or Europe

NYCstressbunny

Oh, pul-ease! - in London you can expect paying something like $6 a ride and gasoline costs almost 3 times what it is here.

Chuck Schumer's Fat

NYCCstressbunny obviouslsy has a simplified view of the world and poor analysis skills.

England has social medicine and just tags along on the US's wars. Always beware of someone who says: pul-ease.

just saying

Who is the person with poor analysis skills? Why it's obviously you. "obvisoulsy?" "England has social medicine?"

I think you mean "socialized" medicine (as if you knew what that is)--and which incidentally has absolutely nothing to do with the topic of public transportation. Do a little research/reading so you can present an intelligent opinion.

Or do you just enjoy whining?

Chuck Schumer's Fat

Admittedly quick typing produced spelling and grammatical errors in my previous post. However, I guess "Just Saying" probably thinks that the trains in London just run for free, without taxpayer funding. The point is, which she/he/it obviously doesn't comprehend is that Britain has great social expenses, including socialized (thank you) medicine which costs a lot. New Yorkers are just getting higher transit fares, and no help with rising health care costs. "Just Saying" doesn't even comment on the issue here, only makes personal attacks. Now that's true whining.

just saying

Archie Bunker just called. He wants his brain back. lol

Chuck Schumer's Fat

So, beyond your 3rd grade style, what is your take on the MTA fare hike? On Bloomberg's budget? On socialized medicine? Or is this just your therapy session?

just saying

How many people here have to insult you before it sinks into your reptilian brain?

Not only do you twist people's words, but you also make up illogical scenarios to support your prejudices. Your comments are consistently nothing more than long-winded rants. And the WORST part is that you monopolize entire threads with your brainless tirades. Enough is enough.

P.S. Archie Bunker still wants his brain back.

Chuck Schumer's Fat

just saying (nothing):

Still haven't got your views on the MTA fare hike.

Folks, here's an example of what just saying (nothing) considers a non-rant:

"One reason why Boston ranks higher than NYC on the sobriety scale is because their drunkards come here to indulge their liquor-fueled sprees. http://gothamist.com/2010/02/01/boston_man_accuses_cop_of_breaking.php..."

Yee hah! What a mental giant!!!!