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Officials, Public Say 'No Fare Hike'
Marshall, speaking at a public hearing held in Flushing, told the MTA, "We all need to take the train in the morning," and reminded the panel that commuting in Queens frequently includes surface transit as well. With the Number 7 train terminating at Main Street, Marshall said many riders have no choice but to take a bus, too. "Here I am," said Jason Chin-Fat, a Woodside resident. "I take the Number 7 train and the Q27 at Main Street. I cannot afford to pay whatever increase. I'm the person that you're affecting." Chin-Fat, a working college graduate with student loans, said he didn't have a car and couldn't afford one. "I have to take a bus, I have to take a train. I can't walk 11 miles to my job." The number of subway riders rose by almost 4 percent during the first half of 2007, compared to last year, with almost one billion riders, according to a report by the American Public Transportation Association cited in an October 5 Newsday report. Bus rides were down by half a percent. Douglas Sussman, MTA Director of Public Affairs, said the increases, presented in two distinct proposals, are needed to help close a projected operating deficit of $6 billion over the next four years. But most of the increases in operating costs are because of growing interest on $32 billion in outstanding bond debt, as much as $1.5 billion due in 2008. The MTA plans to raise $262 million from the proposed fare hike. Both of the fare hike plans raise the base fare from $2 to $2.25. Under the current fare structure plan, MTA also proposes other "modest increases", notably in the cost of the current six-rides-for-the-price-offive discount ($10 MetroCard) which would go up from $1.67 per ride to $1.88, about a 12.5 percent increase. In addition, passes would go up 4 percent. The second plan establishes a peak and off-peak fare structure that would eliminate the 6- for-5 MetroCard, replacing it with a card costing $2 for a ride during peak periods (weekdays from about 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.) and $1.50 during offpeak times. Under this plan, 30- day unlimited ride MetroCards also rise $6, from $76 to $82. What does this mean for transit riders? According to the New York Public Interest Research Group's (NYPIRG) Staphangers Campaign, the 6- for-5 pay-per-ride bonus is used for 40 percent of all trips. Under the first plan, the 6- for-5 bonus would cost 21 cents more per ride. That's an increase of $109 more per year, according to the Straphangers Campaign. Under the peak/off-peak plan, riders unable to use offpeak hours would experience a 20 percent increase (33 cents) from the current $1.67 (6-for-5 bonus) to $2 a ride for a $172 annual increase in their transit costs, according to the Straphangers Campaign. "We ask you to hold the line," said City Councilmember John Liu, chair of the council transportation committee. Liu said a fare increase was "really a tax increase on working men and women". "Fare increases affect working men and women disproportionately," said state Senator Toby Stavisky. Stavisky said the MTA would have a $960 million surplus at the end of 2007 and a $377 million surplus at the end of 2008. "No fare hike is needed this year to balance the budget," she said. Assemblymember Ellen Young said a fare hike now "would be nothing but counterproductive". Young asked the MTA to delay any increase until April and said legislation has been introduced in Albany to increase transit funding by $680 million. "Give the Governor [Eliot Spitzer] and the legislature enough time to work out the details," said Young. "Let the state fund the funding so that the riding public is spared." |
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