Possible Fare Hike In MTA's Future: Liu

At a City Council Transportation Committee hearing last week, MTAofficials refused to rule out a substantial fare increase for bus and subway riders in the future, according to committee chairman John Liu (D-Flushing).

Liu and other councilmembers also questioned the 65 percent increase in city subsidies for private bus line operations. The bus lines were taken over by the MTA at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's urgings over the past several years.

Prior to the MTA takeover, Liu said, the privately operated lines in Queens and other boroughs received subsidies of $150 million to $160 million a year. Under the MTA takeover, he added, the mayor is budgeting $261 million for the formerly private lines.

"Why are taxpayers paying $100 million more to operate the same bus lines, just because it's the MTA rather than private companies running the buses, Liu asked? "It's especially confounding that the subsidy is higher even though riders are paying more," the Flushing lawmaker added, noting bus fares went from $1.50 to $2 for the private lines.

The possible fare increase for bus and subway riders was raised when questioning by Liu brought out that the MTA has a $1 billion hole in its capital budget. This resulted from the failed sale of the West Side rail yards last year.

When the sale fell through, Liu continued, the MTA cancelled several vital projects, including the renovation of a dozen subway stations. "People are now concerned about more cuts to the subway system now that the MTA is again short $1 billion in its construction budget," Liu said.

Under questioning from councilmembers about the deficit, MTA Director of Capital Programs Greg Kulberg and Acting Director of the NYTA Office of Management and Budget Michael Chuback refused to rule out future fare hikes, Liu said.