Fare Hike Plans Keep Evolving
By Joe Marvilli
Over the weekend, news about the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s latest fare hike plan leaked out to the public, representing another step towards a final proposal.
The new proposition comes less than a month after a series of public hearings held by the MTA throughout the City. Although this new plan is not finalized, it is being discussed by the MTA board.
Under the proposal, the base fare would increase from $2.25 to $2.50 per ride. A seven-day unlimited MetroCard would go up a dollar, from $29 to $30. A thirty-day unlimited MetroCard would go up eight bucks, moving from $104 to $112.
The MetroCard bonus percentage would be shaved down, moving from seven percent to five percent. However, riders will only have to put $5 on their Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard to receive a discount. Currently, the bonus only kicks in starting at $10.
“The MTA will continue to do all they can to keep costs down, enhance service and adopt a fare/toll structure that has the least impact on the greatest number of customers,” Kevin Ortiz, a spokesman for the MTA, said.
A final fare hike structure will be voted on by the board at its Dec. 19 meeting.
While the New York Public Interest Research Group’s Straphangers Campaign was pleased with the lower bonus requirement, the group still objected to the fare hike in general.
“We’re pleased that they retained the bonus. It’s going to make it more accessible to more people,” Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the Straphangers Campaign, said. “We can’t be happy about a fourth fare hike in five years.”
Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, or at jmarvilli@queenstribune.com.