Sep 25, 2007 9:23 am US/Eastern
Commuters: MTA Fare Hikes 'Turnstile Injustice'
Be Prepared To Pay More Every 2 Years, Maybe Forever
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The MTA wants fare hikes, but it's how often they want them that is causing controversy. Wednesday, there was commuter outrage.
As CBS 2 HD reported Tuesday night, one reason the MTA is seeking a 25-cent fare hike instead of just 10 cents is because the machines don't deal in dimes, only quarters and nickels. Buying a $2.10 ticket with a $5 bill would give you 58 nickels or 11 quarters and 3 nickels in change, which is why they say they dealing with quarters is more convenient for everyone. Almost everyone.
They say it's "turnstile injustice," that's the commuters' take on the MTA's new plan to raise rates, not just next year, but every two years, apparently forever. Many loyal MTA riders are voicing their opinions.
"If you get our employers to give us an increase along with the MTA increases, we'd be okay with that, but that's not going to happen, so all we get is an increase in expenses," said Brian Dean, an MTA commuter.
He's not the only one outraged over the alleged fare hike. A Massapequa man wants to know where the funds are going. "Why are these increases necessary, who benefits from them?"
Executive Director Elliot Sander says the MTA wants cost of living hikes every two years for bus and subway riders, people who use the commuter rails and drivers who use the agency's nine bridges and tunnels.
For now, commuters will continue riding because they have to. Their livelihoods depend on the services the MTA provides. Whether they like it not, they are at the MTA's mercy.
Transit officials say that in the near future they plan to embark on a year-long study of new machines with new technology.
Officials also say they won't do anything until the public has a chance to weigh in on whether they want smaller cost of living hikes every two years or bigger hikes every three or four years.
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