State Legislature Likely To Hold Answer On Fare Hikes
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So just how high will the subway fare go? The state legislature will likely supply the answer in the next three months.
"The drop-dead date is March 25, which is when the MTA board of directors meets and will vote whether to hit the riders with a 23 percent fare hike and massive service cuts or whether the state legislature and Governor Paterson will come to the rescue of the riding public," said Gene Russianoff, Straphangers Campaign.
The Paterson administration said it's already drafting legislation to implement the recommendations of the Ravitch Commission, including a new payroll tax and new tolls on the East River bridges, to allow for a much smaller fare hike. The MTA will be sending a delegation to Albany next week to lobby legislators who go back to work this Wednesday.
Without help from Albany, the MTA said it will consider raising the fare to $3 for a single ride ticket or cash fare on the bus. Those buying multiple rides would pay $2.25, with the pay-per-ride bonus eliminated, while a weekly pass would go up to $31, a 14-day pass to $57 and a monthly to $99.
The agency could also raise the base fare for everyone to $2.50 and keep the 15 percent bonus for those spending $7 or more at a time, with the weekly again going up to $31, the 14-day card to $59, and the monthly to $103.
Last week, MTA Executive Director Lee Sander said the proposed hikes are not just a scare tactic.
"If we don't get the money from Albany, we would have to do this. Having said that, do I hope that this will have a stimulative effect on our legislators and further encourage them to pass the recommendations of the ravitch commission? Yes," said Sander.
While the MTA may also get money from a federal stimulus bill, it's likely those dollars will go toward construction projects and won't prevent a fare hike. As for the mayor, he said he has faith in Albany.
"I'm optimistic that they'll do something. But right now, if they don't do anything, we're going to have Draconian increases in fares and some cuts in services," said Bloomberg.
Whatever happens in Albany, any fare increase wouldn't go into effect until June, although some service cuts would begin taking effect sooner.
In the meantime, the riding public will have a chance to weigh in at a series of eight public hearings beginning next week.