Even if you have a much-craved "objective," starting a successful protest movement is tough. Staten Island resident Joe Valentin wants his brethren rise up and boycott the Port Authority due to its recent fare hikes, and stood outside the Rossville Shopping Center all day yesterday to rally support. But he had no luck garnering disciples. "I talk to people; everybody supports what I'm doing, they want to thank me, but that's not what I want. I want them to do something," Valentin told the Staten Island Advance. What Valentin doesn't realize is that a boycott of the PA is a boycott of Love. more ›

For those who enjoy tinkering with data, the Wall Street Journal has created an interactive chart using the MTA's numbers on the city's MetroCard usage by the areas closest to subway stops. You can compare whether people use 30-day unlimited cards, pay per-rides or senior discount cards, and look at which type of fare increased or decreased after December's fare hike (data on student card usage was released too late for the chart). Then look at the demographic data in the neighborhoods of each stop and generalize away! more ›

Last week after the surprise resignation of MTA chairman Jay Walder, an MTA insider told us that among the many reasons he was leaving was the bleak promise of either more fare hikes or service cuts in the next two years. And today, the MTA announced their five-year financial plan, which will include two fare hikes in 2013 and 2015, avoid service cuts, and bring "fragile stability" to the MTA, according to Walder. more ›

While we learned yesterday that Europe is doing all it can to encourage people to walk or take public transit instead of their car, New York City is inadvertently doing the same thing thanks to the MTA's toll hikes on bridges and tunnels that went into effect back in December. Car crossings were down 3.9 percent this April from the same month in 2010, and trucks and buses dropped 6.6 percent. Fees at most crossings increased by 18 percent, or around $1, except for the Henry Hudson Bridge, which increased by 33 percent to $4 (if paying cash). All this, the Post reports, resulted in a $6.4 million drop in revenue in the first quarter of 2011. If they can't close their budget gaps from tolls, guess whose fares are about to get hiked up? more ›

As predicted, the dreaded subway fare hikes were approved by the MTA board this morning. The carnage unfolded without surprises: The 30-day unlimited-ride MetroCard will increase from $89 to $104, the weekly unlimited card will go up to $29, and the MetroCard cash bonus will decreasing from 15 to 7 percent. In addition, there will be a $1 surcharge on customers buying a new MetroCard, and the Fun Pass and 14-day Unlimited will be phased out. more ›

After an uproar, the MTA seems to be backing away from a proposal to do away with the unlimited MetroCard. Next week the board will vote on a cocktail of fare hikes, but it's looking like a cap on unlimited cards won't be in the mix. MTA Chairman & CEO Jay Walder tells NY1, "There wasn't a lot of enthusiasm for the idea of a capped pass. I think that message has been heard loud and clear. I expect you'll see that in what comes forward to the board." But there's bad news for drivers who don't use EZ-Pass. more ›

Unlike the previous round of raucous public hearings in March, last night's face-off at Cooper Union between straphangers and the MTA board was relatively subdued, with only 150 or so people showing up for the first of nine rant-a-thons. The Times reports that empty seats outnumbered the audience, but there were still some good jabs from disgruntled commuters, like the one who reportedly told the board, "I'm a disabled veteran. I've got hearing aids here. What did I fight for? So I have to jump a turnstile to ride the train?" And another straphanger bitterly declared, "You don't ride the system. You ride in limousines and you laugh at us." more ›

Though hearings and votes are still scheduled, it's certain that by January 2011, MTA fares are going to go up. However, the MTA is predicting that this means ridership will go down. Though they predict just a 1% drop, that's 16 million fewer trips than the average 2.3 billion New Yorkers make in a year. So if ridership is down, and fares are up, won't their gross income be the same? more ›

Today the MTA released its 2011 Preliminary Budget and proposed Four-Year Financial Plan for 2011-2014. No surprises here; the plan includes all the different fare hike proposals that have been floated in the past couple of weeks. You can peruse the full financial plan in pdf form here. One of the more controversial proposals would kill the unlimited MetroCard, replacing it with a monthly card that maxes out at 90 rides for $99, and a weekly card that would have a limit of 22 rides for $28. more ›

Currently, a Stimulus Act provision allows for commuters to use $230 of pre-tax wages to pay for public transit. But come December, that number will drop to $120, something Sen. Chuck Schumer wants to keep from happening. Schumer wants to make the provision permanent, arguing that the December change would take away $150 million in savings each year from commuters. He told reporters yesterday, "In every corner of every borough, families are struggling to make ends meet. It's more important than ever that the federal government not throw salt in their wounds." more ›

• Raising the monthly MetroCard from $89 to $99
• Raising the weekly MetroCard from $27 to $29
• Increasing single-ride paper subway tickets to $2.50

If there's any good news in relation to the latest proposed MTA fare hikes, it's that those who don't use the subway very often may be feeling the brunt of the cost. Though they say they want to fill their $400 million budget gap without raising the $2.25 base fare, the Daily News reports that the fare for single-ride paper subway tickets could be going up to $2.50. (The base fare would apparently remain $2.25 for bus rides.) Just 2.1% of customers use single-ride tickets, and we're guessing many of them don't use the subways that frequently. more ›

Polllsters at Quinnipiac checked in with New Yorkers on some quality of life issues that have been in the news lately. A couple months into the Broadway pedestrian mall experiment, city residents are still supportive of the mayor's initiative—though they like it best from a distance. The mayor seems to generally be in good shape on the issues asked about—New Yorkers stood behind him on control of the schools as well. The city's real enemy, not surprisingly, is the MTA. Here are some of the results from the poll taken last week: more ›

This morning, the MTA board met and passed Albany's proposed fare hikes and toll increases. Commuter rail fares will begin to increase on June 17; fares on subways and buses will change on June 28; bridge and tunnel tolls will increase on July 12. Fares are rising an average of 10%. more ›

Since state lawmakers have recessed for Passover & Easter break without a deal for helping the MTA, the MTA has released the timetable for the approved fare hikes and service reductions, which range from 25% higher subway, bus and rail fares to eliminating bus lines. MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin tells the Daily News, "While we continue to hope that Albany will reach agreement on a comprehensive plan for the MTA, we have no choice but to move toward implementation of these cuts and fare increases." more ›

After the MTA's Finance Committee voted yesterday to approve a package of severe fare increases (hello, $103 monthly unlimited Metrocard) and drastic service cuts (good-bye, W and Z lines; farewell, bus routes—see the PDF of NYC Transit changes here), MTA board member Allen Cappelli said, "There are 45 hours left before this disaster goes into effect." The MTA board is scheduled to vote on the fare hikes tomorrow. more ›

A ride on the subway is fast becoming a luxury item: Today the MTA Finance Committee voted to approve a package of steep fare hikes that would increase the cost of a single subway or bus ride from $2 to $2.50. In addition to the base fare increase, the cost of a 30-day unlimited-ride MetroCard would go up to $103 (from $81), while a weekly unlimited-ride MetroCard would increase $6 to $31. The full MTA board will vote on the fare increases Wednesday, and the changes will likely go into effect in June unless legislators in Albany can come to terms on a bailout package for the MTA. more ›

With the State Senate stalling on the MTA bailout plan, a plan that has the support of Governor Paterson and Assembly Speaker Silver, the MTA is holding an emergency board meeting to discuss its options. And many think that if there's no bailout, the board will vote to implement the severe fare hikes and service cuts first mentioned last November (monthly Metrocard going from $81 to $103 dollars, bus lines are cut) in order to deal with its deficit. Richard Ravitch, who offered a number of suggestions for MTA revenue, including tolling East River and Harlem River bridges (which appears to be a dealbreaker for many State Senators), told the Daily News, "The public has a right to know - and the board has the responsibility to figure out - what kind of system it can operate with the revenues they have. They have to start thinking about shrinking the system." more ›

The MTA's favorite tune is unfortunately recorded on a broken record that keeps repeating itself: commuters need to pay more, but don't expect to see much in the way of improvements for it. The agency is saying that given the huge budget shortfall projected for next year, it's already contemplating another fare hike just three months after the last one went into effect. It would be nice if the next fare hike didn't leave odd amounts of unusable change stranded on Metrocards. more ›

The MTA's various fare hikes for the NYC subways and buses, as well as its railroads, went into effect this weekend. Today, subway and bus base fares still cost $2, but higher-value pay-per-ride Metrocards have less of a bonus discount while weekly and monthly unlimited ride Metrocards are more expensive. more ›

The MTA's various fare hikes are starting to go into effect next month (aka tomorrow). Tomorrow, Long Island Railroad and Metro-North fares are going up. Bridge and tunnel tolls are going up on March 16. And the doozy will be the NYC Transit subway and bus fare hikes which go into effect on Sunday, March 2. Expect tons of confused riders and weary MTA workers on Monday and for the next few weeks. more ›

The board of the MTA voted this morning in favor of increasing the cost of multiple-ride Metrocards. According to NY1, the outcome of the vote was a foregone conclusion following the public agreement between Gov. Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg that riders needed to pay more to ride subways and buses. The pair have effective control of ten of the 14 board members' votes. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg continued his whirlwind tour through Asia yesterday with a stop in Bali, Indonesia to talk to United Nations officials about the global effects of climate change. This is after a foray to China, that brought to mind Ed Koch's Beijing inspiration for bike paths in NYC to The New York Times' Clyde Haberman. Like NYC, Bali was the victim of a devastating terrorist attack that killed and injured hundreds of people. more ›

So much for halting the hike! Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer have both given their approval of the MTA's proposed 4-7% fare hikes for subway and bus riders. The base fare will remain $2, but the unlimited Metrocard prices will increase. The Mayor (from China apparently) said, "Based on the information that my staff and I have received and reviewed over the past few weeks, I am now satisfied that the MTA budget is a... more ›

Our MTA Webinar lunch plans are frozen at the moment. We sort of wish the "technical difficulties" prompt was accompanied by a "signal problem" or "police activity" reference to complete the atmosphere. The MTA just released the new fare hikes for unlimited and pay-per-ride Metrocards. The base fare will remain at $2, though only 15% of the riding population buys the base fare. Update: We didn't see any questions or answers during the time... more ›

With the MTA's vote whether to raise subway and bus fares coming in less than three weeks, speculation is running high about what will happen. Even though Governor Spitzer said that the base subway and bus fare will remain $2, unlimited Metrocard fares - which 85% of riders use - will rise. The MTA has insisted the fare hikes are necessary, given projected deficits and upcoming capital construction, but many elected officials believe that the... more ›

The Daily News has been keeping score which MTA officials have actually been showing up to the meetings where the public gets to air its opinions about the proposed fare hikes. And now that the meetings are over, the News names the three MTA board members who were no shows: (pictured, from left to right) Andrew Saul (who is Vice Chairman of the Board), Donald Cecil, and Susan Metzger. And mind you, these are members... more ›

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... more ›

Earlier this afternoon, an A/C power outage along the 7 line caused service to stop in both directions. Apparently one of the signals went out at 1:35PM, and the MTA wasn't completely sure when it would be fixed. Other parts of the 7 came back and now, thankfully, 7 service is back and running in time for the rush hour. more ›