MTA: Hey, Let's Make Monthly MetroCards $130!

$50 monthly Metrocard! Class system proposal for MTA.

http://s.mohdi.com/metroclass

Meanwhile the people at the top read these comments from there air condtioned livery cabs on there way to work.. What numb skulls they will shut up and take it... There too busy keeping there heads above water and worried about what fell out of pdittys mouth last weekend to do anything..

Bloomberg Transport Authority

This is not an infrastructure issue, this is a personnel issue. If you cut half the MTA employees, it would run at about 90% efficiency.

Do we need station agents? No.

Do we need 3-4 MTA employees per train? No.

Do we need a group of "watchers" doing maintenance work? Nope.

Do we need a guy to push the up button on the 181st #1 train elevator? No.

Do we need train conductors collecting over $200K/year in overtime? No.

Do we need an insane management class that sucks up $350K paychecks and can't balance a budget? Hell no.

The MTA needs to be fixed (fiscally) from the bottom up. Yes, people are going to lose their jobs, but it's time people start proving that their jobs are worth keeping.

Wrong. MTA workers need MORE money to make to system run better and more efficient.

Yeah of course, because your entirely prviy to the complete operational budget and needs of the NYC transit system.

Grow up and get a brain.

I would totally hop on the 1-800-FLOWERS 6 train to get off at McDonald's® Union Square stop if it meant prices stayed reasonable.The MTA is always adding more "unique" ways to throw advertising on us, so why not go the way of the American stadium? Adopt a subway, corporate America!

Why? So they can charge specialty $130 prices for prize seats?

Are you unemployed or know someone unemployed? This country makes me laugh; double-digit unemployment and everyone still clamors for more of the same!

I hope the historians of the future will be as kind to our former empire as they are to the romans and greeks before us.

Time to dismantle the "union" and privatize. It would turn a profit in six months.

All of Japans railways are private.......and they are remarkable.

And then we will be in a bigger mess than where we are today.

Privatization of a public service will also result in increasing costs and deterioration of services. Don't believe me? Break your arm and try using the emergency room @ your local hospital.

NY`s subways were private until the City took them over.

The MTA uses this strategy EVERY SINGLE TIME. They announce a jaw-dropping fare hike, and then try to seem like they're "for the people" when they only raise it half as much. My, aren't they generous.

hey it's a pretty good time-proven strategy, for a con.

the $2.50 single ride card is worth it, as long as you swipe using crazy glue and leave the swiper mechanism gummed up.

Time for a peasant revolt.

I noticed something very interesting about the recent busstop closures.

The busstops have been shut down to passenger service and are still being serviced for graffiti removal and glass replacement. WHO PAYS FOR THIS?

Strangely enough the MTA doesnt have a contract with the people or the riding public, but seems to have a contract with a company to service the bus stops.

Im sure the contract the mta signed means they are obligated to keep paying these numbskulls to keep replacing and cleaning busstops?

strange do you think anybody who signed a advertising contract actually looked into what happens to the ad contract in case the actual rider eyeballs are no longer using the stops??

The bus stops (and new fancy newstands) are maintained by CEMUSA. I don't think the MTA pays for the bus stops...I beleive all the revenue from advertisements pays for the installation and upkeep.

How about this deal. Raise it to $130 but I expect a lot of changes. New cars, full cleaning crews, station agents, no delays, and can't raise fare again for 50 years, etc. I'm willing to pay more for better service and better trained employees who do a good job. Also, im willing to pay a little more now for gaurantees that there wont be an increase for a very long time. What Im not willing to do is pay more for nothing. If they are not improving anything than there is no justification for this big of an increase besides mismanagement. If the funds were mismanaged then whoever did it should pay for the difference in the budget bc its their fault.

Absolutely! I am willing to pay more for better service! We are paying more for increasingly worse service. Line cuts, bus routes terminated, late trains, filthy cars, dilapidated stations and still the rates go up. Yes, the system needs money, but the systems also needs to be fairly and openly audited by a third party. I will pay more, gladly, when I see where the money goes. Cutting a few hundred (relatively) low wage workers doesn't sound like cost effective measures. We need an audit, and we need it now.

I will not be holding my breath. Time to buy a bike. Can I sue the City when I get hit by a cab pedaling to work at 4 AM?

Well the MTA has new cars..

Thanks for pointing that out. They do have a few new cars. Im glad you are willing to pay an extra $40 a month for the 1 in 3 shot of getting a new car and nothing else. Im not.

$130 a month to exit the the train at Lexington Avenue/53rd Street station for work every day to find no working escalators, 1,000 degree heat and numerous MTA "workers" with orange vests standing around picking their noses not directing people how to exit the station???????????????

Time to buy a bike!!!!!!!!!!!

Bike? I'm going for a CAR.

WHY NOT MAKE IT 1,500 DOLLARS BYTCHES!!!!! Bloomberg would state it is affordable.

While I definitely agree that the MTA might not spend its money wisely, I think we still have a heck of a transportation system. It's 24 hours, extensive, and even with the fare increases, insanely cheap. What a lot of people overlook is that we're working on a flat fare. Many systems in other countries and even here in the U.S. base their fares on distance. Can you imagine the uproar if NYC ever did that?

I lived in Japan, which arguably has one of the best transportation systems in the world, but the railways are privatized. So, you have to pay a separate fare (transfers are discounted) for each line. Sometimes, in order to save a few dollars, you have to go a bit farther just so you can stay on the same company's line and not pay for a transfer. While I'm sure Japan's method generates more money for the companies, it just shows how NYC's flat fare is a great deal if you think about it.

The NYC subway itself is in need of repair and the service needs to be rehauled, but I think it's still a great system.

japan's lines are much cleaner. also, the way people use the subway is much different in japan than the way we use the subway in nyc. the very fact that the mta is government-owned shows how much nyc residents depend on the system. the subway has become, and for some time now, one of the most integral part of living in nyc. but it's now going in the direction of 'having to ride the subway,' such as 'having to brush your teeth,' or 'having to do your chores,' etc. once it becomes a 'have to', it takes all the joy away and we're one step closer to overhauling this corrupted system -- have you looked at how many employees in the mta make 3 times their salary because of overtime pays? and if you are extremely happy with this fact, i can only conclude that you're one of those crooked workers.

these mta 'services' are supposed to accomodate the needs of its customers, which cover the vast majority of nyc residents at least once a day, and the weekday workers from nj, li, ct, etc. soon these 'services' will no longer be services anymore (many argue that they aren't already); they're becoming yet another necessary evil to deal with in our lives. in simple terms, these mta 'services' no longer make people feel good; and as a matter of fact, the mta seems to actively piss its customers off (or is subconsciously really good at it, i.e. the mta doesn't listen).

i could go on forever, but i won't. ("thank you!") i found it often pointless to ramble other than the fact that i'm trying to feel good with the whole thing. and in the middle of my writing my feelings changed, haha

so what if they raise the fare? i will feel good regardless. and i will still think of ways to stop the mta from fare r*aping nyc. it'll happen. the mta will go through some extensive changes for good. one day. history repeats itself over and over again.

ps i hate writing serious things. now i need a massage or something.

Oh yeah, I totally agree. There's a ton of mismanagement, corruption, etc. in the MTA and things definitely need to change. I just wanted to point out that we're still not paying that much (relatively speaking) and that it probably could be a lot worse.

It would be nice if the subways were cleaner, but I think that can be changed significantly if people would actually clean up after themselves and throw out their own garbage instead of leaving it for the cleaning crew. Obviously this is way too optimistic and idealistic of an idea so it'll never happen, but still. Of course it also brings up the problem of overflowing garbage cans in the subway (gross) which the MTA should handle. Haha, I guess it never really ends, huh?

Did you know the MTA has several buildings in all 5 buroughs that sit empty every year? Maybe they should look at how they are spending our hard earned money before they hike up the prices again without making any substantial changes to the service (or before cutting any more lines...)

I think many of those vacant buildings are emergency egress disguises. There was a post on Gothamist a couple of months ago discussing it.

F' it! Go ahead and make monthly cards $250 and pay-per-rides $5 per ride and then don't raise it for 10 years. I'm sick of these perpetual hikes, and they always propose something drastic and then go piecemeal. It's like the goddamn post office raising prices $0.02 every 6 months. Just raise it a dollar and be done with it!

Actually, maybe the MTA should institute a "Forever" metrocard. Give the MTA $25K, and you can ride for life, non-transferable. What the hell, make it $50K.

Also, start selling naming rights for seats and poles.

Or, how about MTA street fairs and bake sales? They could have one of those dunking booths, and for $10, you can try to knock an MTA member into a tub. Or, for $50, you can kick one in the balls.

Now's not the time for politics, but for inventive solutions!

For $100, can I taser sleeping token booth clerks?

You got my vote for MTA Boss-man.

Not sure if that means you agree with my plans, or you want to kick me in the nuts. Either way, thanks!

oh, it's just the biggest con group in new york, and one of the worst too -- everyone knows the mta is corrupted. hello, cons are not supposed to screw people out in the open. fucking amateurs.

ADB has it right. This simply doesn't add up, unless they are raising the individual ride fare by a ridiculous amount too. Which they probably are.

The unlimited monthly is really a commuter card, the way it is priced. To be worth it, you should break even on 22 x 2 weekday commutes, plus some extra weekend/ evening rides.

A $41 monthly increase, at once, or a $3612 annual increase, is pretty steep. One less night out a month for a couple. We should be seeing a few more bar and restaurant closings than normal if this goes through.

That's $492 a year, I'm not sure how you came up with $3612, unless you're talking about a family of 7?

Anyway, back on topic, fuboy is right, a $41 increase is going to price their ridership into non-existence.

Fuckin' morons...

This is absurd! People, can we really come together and protest this? I'm motivated enough to get off my ass, away from the computer and actually do something to show my frustrations. Anyone with me?

I kind of wish the MTA would just implode so we could start over. Is that even possible at this point? Sorry if I'm rambling, I'm just completely enraged.

Protest what?

The fact that a service you want costs more than you are willing to pay for it?

Protest the fact that I'm definitely not willing to pay for it. The fact that this would actually be the last straw for me. I'm sure others feel the same way and would like to voice their opinions and concerns!

I misread that, sorry. Protest the fact that MTA riders shouldn't suffer the most from the state's poor budget, protest a massive increase in fares when subway service has been getting worse, which yes, is a result of cutting service due to budget, protest the fact that the MTA is corrupt and takes advantage of its customers. Just a few ideas.

hey, you got more efficient ideas i'm all ears.

i'll join. just let me know when you have a good size of people already. i likes to blend in.

'cause i'm shy. '_'

Congestion pricing, please. Some tolls to help keep my metrocards cheap is all I'm asking for. Heck, I pay for the roads you drive on, it isn't too much to ask for you to pay for the train I ride on.

Heck, I pay for the roads you drive on, it isn't too much to ask for you to pay for the train I ride on.

Is this true? I thought gas taxes and tolls pay for most of the roads. As a subway rider, we don't pay for that. I'm sure some federal and state funds go to roads, though--but it's mostly through excise taxes, I believe.

I think you totally made the opposite argument. More federal money goes toward subways than the fares bring in.

Taxes related to their use, like gas taxes and tolls, do not even remotely pay for roads. Most of the money comes out of general revenue. Which, in places like New York City, effectively means that the private automobile ownership of a minority is subsidized by the public transit using majority.

And the military necessary to protect crude supplies...also covered by excise taxes? Don't get me started on global warming, asthma rates, and the trade deficit. The true costs of driving are mostly not born by the driver.

Who created the Interstate system where trucking was made more cost effective than rail?

Ahem, the government.

When you subsidize things and make them cheap, you can't then complain about the unintended consequences.

The true costs of driving were created by the federal government creating the urban sprawl.

Yes, my point exactly, thanks. The government has subsidized and continues to subsidize an auto-based transportation system and we all pay into it one way or another regardless of whether we actually drive.

I was just ranting in general...not at you. Sorry

I do, its called State income tax.

Oh, you are right, Albany is usually so even handed when it comes to New York City residents.

Though to be fair "Albany is usually so even handed when it comes to blah blah blah whatever you could think of."

Russianoff is right. $130 is a bullshit option they are probably just throwing out that number to make the other options look 'not as bad'.

It's like when you go into a clothing store and they show a pair of jeans at original price of say $130 and then make the sale price say...$104... ooh I saved exactly 20% hooray, what a steal!

I just bought a bike for roughly the same price as this new metrocard scheme. I haven't ridden in years but want the alternative.

Why?

Fuck the MTA, that's why.

The same way the higher cigarette tax is not bringing in money for the state, the MTA will price people out of it's service. People will find alternatives and the MTA will end up gaining nothing.

It is okay. New Yorkers have an unlimited supply of money!

We just live in a dreamland where our biggest concern is making dates with two girls on one night! ZING!

I'm tired of being bled at every turn not only in this city but in this country. Our pay is quadruple taxed (Payroll, state, federal, city), then there is the omnipresent sales tax, oh and let's not forget luxury taxes.

No, clearly we have nothing but money to give! The state goes bankrupt? Oh I know, pummel NYC by taxing clothes!

Hell, at least we are raping our own people for a change instead of finding some indigenous tribe in...oh wait...we are always doing that.

How about some federal and state money?

The state just slashed away on their end. The federal keeps the big projects going and can't be used for day-to-day operations.

Everyone loves subways!!!

Which is why it is so easy to overlook the fact that they are among the most financially inefficient, fiscally irresponsible, smallest bang for the buck form of public transportation.

Most of the (very few) subway systems in the world that are profitable are only profitable because they sell other things, like advertising and parking...and have MUCH higher ridership.

You wish it wasn't so...but it is.

I love the subway too. But the costs are too high and its just a shitty business model.

There are no subways in the world that turn a profit -- all are subsidized. The reality is that NY's subway is the least subsidized per person in the US (and certainly vis-a-vis any european subway system) -- what someone said earlier is true, get more money from Albany. NYC subsidizes the rest of NY State, which becomes more ridiculous by the minute.

According to wikipedia, the subways for Hong Kong, Taipei, and Tokyo all turn a profit AND are unsubsidized. But they are the exceptions not the norm.

This may be a difficult concept for the numbers guys at the MTA to understand, but if something *has limits* it is, by definition, *not* unlimited. It is the opposite of unlimited. It is, in fact, *limited*.

Although, while we're at it, how about a little contribution to our transit system from the rest of this damn state? We pay through the nose for your 8 bajillion miles of highway, time for a little support for, you know, the other half of the population of NYS.

We pay through the nose for your 8 bajillion miles of highway

I guess you grow all of your own food. Or you have it brought in by blimp.

Excellent excellent points. I agree 100 percent.

This means you would have to use the card at least 58 times over a 30-day period in order to gain any benefit from the monthly card.

So, if you don't use the metrocard on weekends, or if you are out of town for a couple of days, the monthly is less of a deal than just paying for individual rides.

I'd really love to see the MTA's actual budget broken down... 5 million riders a day x a rough average of $3.90 per rider (2 rides @ $1.95 average with discounts and all) and they can't fund this thing? Does it really cost more than $19M per day to operate? Really?

I guess, actually, if their annual budget is $7B, then it does boil down to about $19M per day. Imagine that.

"The MTA said that if they chose the $130 option, they would also offer a cheaper, limited monthly option."

So that's how they plan to make the ;limited unlimited' cards more palatable? The MTA is really employing some slimy tactics these days.

Why do you all for for the scams of govt? Every time you blame the "MTA" you are doing its dirty work FOR them. The MTA does not exist. What it is is a bunch of PEOPLE appointed by Bloomberg and other politicians. They made it "independent" so you fools would never hold the people responsible - the mayor and governor.

Replace "MTA" with "Bloomberg" and once you create accountability, only then can anything improve.

Right now, there are zero consequences to the MTA's scams.

Also, why does every article about fare hikes omit the $350K salary of Jay Walder? Are reporters afraid telling the truth will backfire?

Meanwhile the people at the top read these comments from there air condtioned livery cabs on there way to work.. What numb skulls they will shut up and take it... There too busy keeping there heads above water and worried about what fell out of pdittys mouth last weekend to do anything..

Bloomberg Transport Authority

Also, why does every article about fare hikes omit the $350K salary of Jay Walder? Are reporters afraid telling the truth will backfire?

I think because they realize, as does everyone other than John Samuelson and his koolaid-drinkng followers, that executive salary is a nonstarter. Walder took a pay CUT to come to the MTA from McKinsey. This is what someone with his experience costs. Take a look at his resume. This is what comparative CEOs get paid for running a company with a bigger budget that some countries. Would you rather have someone who knows what he's doing up there or some political appointee pal of [name of governor du juor]?

Listen, you could pay Walder $1 a year, but you're still looking at almost $2 Billion (and climbing) in annual INTEREST payments alone for bonds that they had to take out from back in the early 90s when Mario Cuomo cut capital funding.

Here's a fun fact: The MTA is the entity with the 5th largest debt in this country, behind California, New York City, New York State, and Massachusetts.

::insert spit take here::

Everyone said that the debt bomb was going to go off one day, and the worst part of it is that it's just the fuse that is lit at this point, the big boom is yet to come. In a few years, we will be WISHING for $130 MetroCards.

Meanwhile the people at the top read these comments from there air condtioned livery cabs on there way to work.. What numb skulls they will shut up and take it... There too busy keeping there heads above water and worried about what fell out of pdittys mouth last weekend to do anything..

Bloomberg Transport Authority

their

 

1.

a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun: their home; their rights as citizens; their departure for Rome.

2.

(used after an indefinite singular antecedent in place of the definite masculine form his or the definite feminine form her ): Someone left their book on the table. Did everyone bring their lunch?

So true its all becoming clear now

I can't help but read your comments in 'Joan' voice.

Been to any PepsiCo boardroom meetings lately?

Don't fuck with me fellas! This ain't my first time at the rodeo.

UGH! I hate these dumbass MF's that work at the MTA. They need to all get the hell out and start over!!!!