The Quadrangle

Issue date: 1/26/05 Section: News

After four years under the threat of fare increases by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, commuters brace themselves for further fare hikes on Subways, Buses, and both the Metro North and Long Island Rail Road. With construction projects on the way, and a system requiring extensive repairs, both MTA and straphanger are looking at a less than promising future. As the system still repairs after New York City's darkest days, the prospect of further fare increases is all but certain.
Citing a billion dollar budget gap, the MTA held hearings late last year over proposed fare increases and service cuts in the five boroughs and Long Island. After various periods of fiscal disaster and physical disrepair, great amounts of money are still required to keep the 722-mile long system in safe operation.
The new fare increases will affect weekly and monthly Metrocards, express bus fare, bridge and tunnel tolls, and train tickets on both the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Roads. Weekly passes will cost $24, monthly-unlimited ride increases bring the cost to $76, express buses will cost $6, tunnel tolls suffer a 50-cent increase currently, and express buses now cost $6. Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road fares would also rise by about five percent, and are all set to begin within the upcoming months.
These fare increases for are the latest in a series lasting the past four years: the first of which affected the regular ride subway price, bringing it to $2. After many years of what most commuters considered poor budgeting, the MTA was brought to court by the Straphangers organization, a consumer advocacy group for commuters in New York City. Citing mismanagement by the Authority, the Straphangers claimed that there was actually a budget surplus within the organization. The MTA admitted that there was indeed a surplus, but argued that it would be a "logistical nightmare" to reinstate the previous price on 12,000 pieces of equipment, Metrocard turnstiles, and would cost the Authority nearly $1.2 million a day in lost revenue. Eventually, the ruling was overturned, and the first of many fare hikes remained. Once subway riders grappled with their new fare, bridge and tunnel users experienced a more expensive ride to work, and bus riders began paying more for express bus service. As public outcry swelled, the Transit Authority promised more transparency in their bookkeeping, and more reasoning behind further fare increases. As time went on, the budget surplus was not enough to stop further fare increases.

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