Jul 25, 2007 6:48 pm US/Eastern
Un-Fare? MTA Considers Increase To Fix Budget Gap
That's Not All: Other Hikes On The Horizon Through 2010
by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Are we on the verge of another MTA fare hike?
On Wednesday, transit officials set the stage for raising rates on subways, buses, commuter rails and even bridges and tunnels next year. But that's not all.
What was unusual Wednesday was that the MTA board proposed not just a 6.5 percent fare hike starting in January, but also a new one every two years starting in 2010 -- tied to the Consumer Price Index.
"This is a fair contribution to ask of our riders," MTA Executive Director Elliot Sander said.
Riders sure think it's unfair.
"I hope they don't do it," one said.
"I think it's unfair to transit riders," said another.
Added a third: "You got 2-3 million people riding a day. You got plenty of money. They shouldn't be having to raise fares."
The MTA says it will have a $965 million deficit next year, $1.4 billion in 2009 and $1.8 billion in 2010, and that it needs the money.
City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., who has auditing authority over Transit Authority buses and subways, said he was to study the books to see if the gaps are real.
If the legislature does approve congestion pricing it will mean extra funds for the MTA, causing many to wonder if it's really necessary to start raising fares every two years at the same time congestion pricing kicks in.
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