Nov 20, 2008 7:19 pm US/Eastern
MTA Cash Crunch Bites LIRR, Express Bus Riders
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Sparing no one, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's cash crush is taking its toll on Long Island commuters. (File)
AP
Sparing no one, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's cash crush is taking its toll on Long Island commuters and express bus riders.
News of a 23 percent fare hike on the LIRR makes a rough month even rougher for Patrick Sullivan. The regular commuter from Rockville Centre to Wall Street was laid off four weeks ago. With a wife and a 15-month-old son to take care of, Sullivan is now riding the LIRR to look for a new job in Manhattan.
"With the economy the way it is right now its a little stressful," Sullivan said.
Under the proposal, a round-trip ticket could go up from $19.50 to $23.70 in Rockville Centre. A $211 dollar monthly pass could go up to $259.53.
Regular riders of the bus are taking a hard hit too -- $2.00 fares will go up 43 percent.
In addition to increased fares, the proposed budget includes reduced service on off-peak and weekend trains, canceled and combined trains, fewer ticket-selling locations and a delay fixing gap problems on train platforms.
In Babylon, at least two peak morning trains and two peak evening trains will be combined. To deal with the anticipated overcrowding, train capacity guidelines are going up to 125 percent.
"As it stands now in the summer time volume is so high, its standing room only," says Patchogue resident David Bruno.
Staffing on the LIRR trains will also be reduced under the proposed budget, with more than 300 jobs to be cut over the next two years.
The boom will also leave express bus riders out in the cold. Under the MTA's proposal, fares will go up and some bus routes will be eliminated all together.
Retiree Joy Schwartz rolls into Midtown from Staten Island on one of the buses three times a week. But she says that will change when the MTA puts in to play its plan to raise express bus fares 50 percent.
"That's a lot of money, I may have to stay home more," says Schwartz.
Others agree express bus service designed to save time won't be worth taking anymore now that express fares are skyrocketing from $5 to $7.50. On top of that, there are increases for people who use Access-a-Ride Paratransit Service.
Alterations on scores of routes will cause confusion and chaos. The MTA will eliminate overnight bus service (25 Routes), and eliminate X27 and X28 express bus lines on weekends.
Most Riders seem riled up but also resigned.
"You can't fight City Hall," says express bus rider Joe Amore.
CBS 2's Carolyn Costello and Dave Carlin contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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