Some of our callers tonight said a .25 cent increase is not a lot, all said and done. But if you take into consideration all the hikes over the past five years, it's a significant increase. Since 2008, when a single ride cost $2, fares have gone up a whopping 25%. And they're not over, with another hike scheduled in two years. While it's understandable the MTA needs more revenue, there has to be a comprehensive plan, which includes more funding from Albany and cutting down on costs. The public would be more inclined to make a sacrifice if the other side was willing to meet in the middle.

On March 1st, your subway and bus fares will increase, along with MTA bridge and tunnel tolls. The MTA board voted today to raise the base fare from $2.25 to $2.50 and the 30-day unlimited MetroCard from $104 to $112. It will also cost $1 to purchase new cards.

In addition, the one-way Verrazano-Narrows Bridge cash toll will rise to $15 from $13. The Triborough, Bronx-Whitestone and Throggs Neck bridges, along with the Queens-Midtown and Brooklyn-Battery tunnels, will rise to $7.50 from $6.50.

At today's meeting, MTA Chairman Joe Lhota also announced his resignation. The former Deputy Mayor under Rudy Giuliani is exploring a run for mayor as a Republican. He earned high marks for the MTA's handling of the system before and after Hurricane Sandy. What do you say?

What's your reaction to the increase in fares and tolls? How will it affect your wallet or your commute? Would you consider voting for Joe Lhota in next year's race for City Hall? How would you grade his performance during the storm?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Honestly... why have the hearings?? Obviously it has to "look" like the public is being heard... but when has the MTA NOT raised the fare when they say they need to?? Two sets of books... more MTA projects and now this past storm. People wake up! You are going to pay more no matter what! One thing I will say... the service in my area will not improve much, if at all.

Jessie
Howard Beach, NY

No, I would not vote for him....there is no evidence that he would be a candidate worth voting for. As to his job during and after Sandy, he did his job - no more, no less - just as Gov. Pataki and Mayor Guiliani did their's after 9/11. If you don't do your job there is something terribly wrong, if you do, that's what you get paid for.

Lois
Crown Heights

With fewer than two months since a devastating flood from which the MTA is
still recovering, and with barely a year on the job, Joe Lhota is jumping ship
on the eve of a fare and toll increase, the proceeds of which will need his creative
management, as well as many more months, if not years, of planning and
implementation of a massive capital program to protect the transportation
system's infrastructure from future flood damage.

Yes, he did a herculean job both before and since the storm, has an impressive
record of public service, and would probably make an effective mayor, but to leave
the MTA in the lurch without experienced and stellar leadership at what may
be the most crucial time in our transit system's history just seems irresponsible
and, if he does announce a mayoral candidacy in January, a bit opportunistic.

I'm also concerned that, without the deep pockets of a Mike Bloomberg, and
without a true constituency among rank and file New Yorkers, much of his
campaign financing will come from Wall Street, the real estate industry, super-
wealthy power brokers with no connection to average NYC residents or their
communities, and others in the fabled 1% the Occupy Movement continues
to warn us about. Will he be truly independent, or just another pawn in their
game?

I like and respect Joe Lhota, but I would feel a lot better if he were to remain
at the helm of the MTA instead of launching a speculative mayoral campaign
that will contribute little to the MTA's, and the City's, post-Sandy recovery
efforts during the coming year.

BIG ANDY
Manhattan Beach

Did anyone really believe the MTA would not raise the tolls? I have been and will continue to walk and or bike. So they raised the fare and lost my daily fare of $5.00. If more did this they will lose more than they will gain. The money is better in my pocket than theirs.

Ocsar
Park Hill

Im a Democrat, in the large D sense and mabye its time to consider other funding mechanisms other than the farebox and/or privatizing the respective lines. I would have to hear what hes offering as a candidate, but that said: Im not wild about the rest of the field thus far.

JS
Flushing

Joe did an excellent job during the storm. He stood out above the others.

I would vote for him and then I pray to god that he wins and we can get rid of the same old faces that we have seen for years and years.

IF I WERE JOE I WOULD GO FOR IT!

As far as these fares go I think it's the top honchos call and that also tells me that they don't even consider us at all. It's as though they are saying the hell with them. What are they going to do about it. So they continue to bleed us over and over again.

That is to cover up their misuse of our money and I would like to know just like many others. Just were does all of this money go. OPEN THE BOOKS AND LET US HAVE A LOOK=BRING THEM ON NO MATTER HOW MANY SETS YOU HAVE=WE'LL CHECK IT OUT.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

Seems like Lhota is doing a hit and run, leave before the poor strap hangers get hit with the costs, and as for the stellar performance after the storm, credit the MTA workers, not Lhota.

Felix
Bay Ridge

I appreciate everything Mr. Lhota did during the hurricane. But, with respect, that indicates to me he is a good soldier. Has he done anything at the MTA that would indicate he is a leader, an innovator? And what has he done elsewhere? Why is it that when I am traveling abroad I am always amazed by how much better other world cities seem to operate? I'm always asking myself: don't our city officials and politicians travel? If they do, don't they ever ride public transit, use public services, airports, libraries, talk to local people, etc? If they did, I have to think we'd be seeing a lot more innovation in New York City!

Look at London, another old city with an old transit system, and just consider some of the changes they've made in the past several years (some of them due to Mr. Lhota's predecessor at MTA). If we had that kind of innovation here, we'd have a lot less traffic in Midtown, new rail transit links connecting the outer boroughs, maybe even badly-needed trams on pokey crosstown streets like 42nd Street, and on and on. I don't recall ever hearing Mr. Lhota suggest changes like that.

Ellie
Turtle Bay

The increase doesn't surprise me at all. I knew it was a done deal. it was a waste of time to hold public hearing etc. These board members are unpaid and are part of the 2% in this country who could care less of anyone who is not part of that elite class. So we either pay or move someplace else. This town has no place for someone who is not rich. This is about the have's and the have not's.

As for Mr. Lhota , he's just another political hack who wants to foster his own ambitions.

Jeanne
Brooklyn

JOE LHOTA FOR MAYOR! HE HAS GREAT INSIGHT. AFTER ALL, HE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CURRENT MAYOR AND CORRECTLY MONICKERED HIM AN IDIOT.
LET US HOPE COMMISSIONER KHAN DOES NOT BECOME ANYTHING WITH THE MTA.

JOE
BAY TERRACE

Why the fare hike? Isn't the MTA eligible for hurricane assistance after Sandy? Do they still keep two sets of accounting books? Enough with these elitists running for Mayor. We need some people who actually work for a living to run for office.

Alan
Brooklyn

Is it me, or does anyone else see Joe Lhota's actions as being insensitive and self-indulgent? Why couldn't Lhota wait until Friday to announce his resignation, and articulate his mayoral ambitions? Why do it immediately after imposing the 4th fare and toll increase in 5 years on an already overburdened MTA constituency of riders and motorists, while leaving debt issues and dozens of expired union contracts unresolved?

PETE
MANHATTAN

Nobody's happy about much of anything the MTA or Port of Lack of Authority does. Reason? Nobody believes any of their numbers. If you want to solve the problems, see every subway, bus, railroad line and the bridges to the highest bidder. Transportation should not be a government operation.

Joe
Port Richmond

These authorities are out of control. Period. They are taking the State and tax payer for a ride. Look at their executive ranks, pays, and pensions. Out of control.

Frank
Sunset Park

Lhota running for mayor shows just how out of touch the Republicans are with ordinary people. Who would ever vote for someone who just raised their transit costs by at least 12% (after increases totaling 38% over the last 3 years) while the MTA has hundreds of managers and administrators earning 6 figure salaries? What a joke and what unadulterated hubris and arrogance.

Meryl
Manhattan

SO, MTA CHAIRMAN, JOSEPH LHOTA IS CONTEMPLATING A POSSIBLE RUN FOR MAYOR OF NYC. ALL UNIONS WITHIN THE MTA ARE CURRENTLY WORKING UNDER EXPIRED CONTRACTS. SOME FOR AS LONG AS FOUR YEARS. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO MR LHOTA'S SELFISH, STUBBORN AGENDA. WHICH INCLUDES PAYING SOME SUPERVISORS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THEIR SUBORDINATES. AND HIS RELUCTANCE TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS IN GOOD FAITH. HOPE HE REALIZES THAT THERE'S OVER 150,000 VOTES FROM EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THAT HE SHOULDN'T COUNT ON.

CLINTON
BROOKLYN

This guy is letting the praise he is getting of a job well done ragarding hurricane sandy go to his head. What is in his background that makes him prepared to become mayor. I need to know more.

Unbelievable and outrageous! Another fare increase -- this city is no longer affordable!! And nice move Joe Lhota. He splits the MTA and leaves a major fare and toll increase in his wake while announcing his run for Mayor of NYC. Are some politicians really that ignorant? While his work was commendable with Hurricane Sandy -- does he really think that the voting people of NYC are going to forget this maneuver? Does he think that we are all that foolish? Raising fares is raising taxes on the Working Class! Former Deputy Mayor or not -- you do not stick it to the people of New York City and then expect their vote in the near future.

Good luck with your run for Mayor Joe Lhota. I think that we should just hand over the keys of City Hall to Christine Quinn and call this race over!

Lisa

This guy is just an opportunist. He hasn't done a good job at the MTA. He did his very well paid job during Sandy, which is not more than he should have done, but has pushed through egregiously high fare and toll increases. He's another heel on the throat of the working class, just like his pals Giuliani and Bloomberg.

Frances
East Village

Not fair to the residents..Salaries are not rising and nobody is thinking about the people.Bad enough we have to work 2 jobs to pay rent & mortgages now we have to pay more for Tolls/MTA travels..This is unfair to the people..

Lhota is not a great manager, not a leader. The MTA service has been atrocious.
He is a carpetbagger, a parvenu and a loser as far as I am concerned,
Teachers,(I am one) salaries have not kept pace with inflation.
Lhota is arrogant and I hate him and the MTA

Frank

Joe Lohta has a lotta nerve. He is trying to ride a wave of fortune where he made. 50-50 call and due to the wrath of Sandy, never seen before, and looked like a genius. He was lucky. And now, despite filthy subways and expiring contracts which shows his day to fat weekends, we are supposed to believe he'll make a great mayor. NOT!

Steve
Queens

The question shouldn't be how it affects us because New Yorkers apparently got no say on it. MTA is mismanaged into every aspect of it operations. Question should be where MTA and NYC is going in the future when it comes to transportation? I mean when it will stop. At this point looking at it as a business MTA cant sustain itself and hiking fares is like putting a bend-aid to a major wound.

Aleks

I think its ridiculous for the MTA to increase the fare for the buses and subway. It's already hard to pay the fare now that it is 2.25. Now the MTA is making it harder for more new yorkers that can't make ends meet.

Armani

It's amazing to me. All this uproar about a quarter increase for the subway or bus? It's still the best bargain in town.

I have no doubt that the very transit workers who made Joe Lhotta look good during and after Sandy, will be bashed if we get a decent contract. And then blamed for this and all future fare increases.

Rich
Dyker Heights

The fares have to go up so often because politicians steal transit-dedicated money every year to plug budget holes, and then scream about MTA mismanagement. It's a pathetic and unfair game.

The MTA is vital to the region. The WHOLE region needs to pay for it. Bring back the commuter tax. The city riders contribute way more at the farebox than their suburban counterparts.

Mark
Rego Park

I like Joe Lhota , but how smart can he be announcing a fare hike coinciding with a mayoral announcement ?

You don't pick peoples pockets while shaking their hands for votes .

How 'm i doing Broadway Joe

Mary
Murray Hill

Every single night, as if on cue, the 4,5,6 train serenades the evening rush hour crowd with the famous, "After an earlier incident" hogwash. Not once in a while. Practically every night. And those mechanical muggers that steal rides off of our cards by prompting us to "swipe again"...until your card is empty The metro card machines are no better. After stealing $10 from me, a clerk handing me an envelope to send my card to their offices, don't cut it. To Christine Quinn, I won't forget all this when Lhola runs for mayor. Just like I won't forget you helping to over turn our term limits to extend Bloombucks and you very own political careers. Booooooooooo!!!

Norm
Upper East Side

I think it's fine to raise the unlimited fare, but they should put a cap on it of 150 rides or so, to prevent people who use it 10X a day and actually subsidize their income with it. They also need to educate people that it is illegal to share your card with a stranger for a 'free swipe'. I get asked constantly to swipe someone in as I leave the station.

Karen
Jackson heights

Mass transit should be free. That way, you avoid the cost of collecting fares and you get people out of cars.

Michael
Greenpoint

I'm excited that the Republicans finally have a viable mayoral candidate. New York City needs a competent manager and someone who knows budgets. Who better than Joe Lhota with his impressive background and real experience?

The Democratic field pales in comparison to Joe Lhota. There's no contest.

Pat
Tompkinsville

I think its out of control people cant even afford train fare now and they gonna bring it up again I would not vote him for mayor

Elsie

Who are all these rich people who are fine with the fare increase??? The monthly card has nearly doubled in the ten years I've lived in NY!!! And service has been cut SIGNIFICANTLY!!! This is ridiculous!!!!

Charlie P
Hell's Kitchen

People are saying they don't understand others complaining about fare hikes, but what about those of us who have only one job and children to care for? We can barely make rent, utilities, food, child care and the bare essentials, like toilet paper and deodorant, clothes and shoes for growing children. Everything is going up but the paycheck, for someone like me that currently struggles to buy a $104 metro an extra $9 will most certainly brake me & others like me.

K.
Harlem

They should keep the unlimited rides at the same price and raise the single fares only. Then it would actually be worth it. I only get an unlimited card because when I put money I keep getting fares stolen at the turstiles with the well known problem of "swipe again at this turnstile, swipe again at this turnstile, insufficient fare". Even though I prior checked and had the fare on my card.

Fred
Upper East Side

MAYOR CARMELITA, SOUNDS BETTER, AND IS BETTER WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT

FIRST: LHOTA, RABBIT FOR RUDY GIULIANI OR: PART OF THE INTERVENTION TREATMENT FOR DONALD TRUMP
SECOND: NO MORE FARE INCREASES. IF WE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT FARE HIKES LET'S ROLL THEM BACK TO 1997 FUNDS AVAILABLE: IF THE UNCOLLECTED FINES AND FEES FOR DEFRAUDING THE USA GOVERNMENT BY HALI-BURTON (MISSIONARY DICK CHENEY) AND BP OIL WERE COLLECTED. THERE WOULD BE NO DEFICIT, AND BETWEEN THE TWO PARTNERS IN CRIMES FROM HELL, THESE RESOURCES WILL TURN THE DEFICIT INTO AN GAIN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS

RESOURCE RETURN BY PERCENTAGE OF SPECIFIC STATE AND THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SO THAT IF THE USA WANTS NOT TO HONOR TRADE AGREEMENTS TO TERRORISTS COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN DO THAT. THE CITIZENS FOR AMERICA (CFA) WANTS MORE DUE DILIGENCE AND AGGRESSIVE AND IMMEDIATE ACTION ON FUNDS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS ENTITLED TO. THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE, FOREIGN EMBASSIES WHO DARE US TO CHARGE THEM, WILL BE IN FOR A PLEASANT SURPRISE, EITHER PAY OR BECOME PERSONA NON GRATIS, ASAP.

CARMELITA
HARLEM