Defer MTA Increase

A copy of the following letter was
received by the Gazette.
Hon. Lee Sander
Executive Director and CEO
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
347 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Dear Mr. Sander:

The [Metropolitan Transit Authority] MTA recently proposed a fare and toll increase in its financial plan for 2008. As civic groups concerned with decent transit, we write to urge that if the MTA does adopt a fare increase for 2008, no final action be taken before March 31, 2008, at the earliest.

Our groups have different positions on the MTA's proposed financial plan for 2008. Many of us are still reviewing the complex plan. But we all share the same view about the time schedule. Right now, the MTA plan calls for a decision on fares in December 2007, to go into effect in "early 2008". But we urge that no final action on the fare should happen before March 31, 2008.

That's because two other key actions take effect on that date.

First, this is the date by which the state legislature and New York City Council have to decide on the recommendations of the traffic congestion mitigation commission recently created by the state legislature. The commission will be considering Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal, which would include new transit funding.

Second, on that same day, the MTA is required to submit its five-year, multi-billion dollar capital rebuilding plan, giving the public its detailed program for what repairs will be slated between 2008 and 2013.

Our groups feel strongly that the whole range of transit funding- from operations to capital needs- should be considered as a whole, rather than piecemeal.

There's ample precedent for a fare increase later in March or later in 2008. In 2003, the fare increase did not take effect until May. And in 2005, new fares were put in place in March. Back in 1981, during Richard Ravitch's tenure, the MTA board adopted two different dates: A fare increase went into effect on July 1, 1981 from 50-cents to 60-cents. At the same time, the MTA board voted for another fare increase to be effective July 14 from 60-cents to 75-cents. The state legislature adopted several new revenue measures on July 13th, 1981. The second fare increase was then rescinded.

We appreciate your consideration of our views.
Yours truly,
Gene Russianoff, Senior Attorney
NYPIRG/Straphangers Campaign
Manhattan
Et al.