Angry straphangers spoke out Monday night in the first of a series of public hearings on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's proposed fare hikes.

More than 50 riders, advocates and elected officials addressed the MTA at Cooper Union. All seemed to agree that any increase is too much.

"I'm a disabled veteran. I've got hearing aids here. What did I fight for? So I have to jump a turnstile to ride the train? You can't put someone in the booth?" said one straphanger.

"You don't ride the system. You ride in limousines and you laugh at us. You don't run a transportation system. You are the keepers of the revenue to use it for what you want," said another.

How much the MTA wants to raise fares remains unclear.

Under one option, seven-day MetroCards would rise from $27 to $28 dollars, and would be limited to 22 rides.

Another option would keep the weekly card unlimited, but raise the cost to $29.

For 30-day cards, the options are an increase from $89 to $99 for a card with a 90-trip cap, or $104 for unlimited rides.

The agency says the hikes are necessary to close its budget gap despite implementing service cuts and layoffs. They also cite a shortfall in state aid.

"They are well aware of the financial difficulties that the MTA is in right now. There are no current discussions with Albany about additional funding for 2011," said MTA Chairman & CEO Jay Walder.

While advocates agree that the state is shortchanging the MTA, they say riders shouldn't be forced to pick up the tab.

"Riders are being unfairly asked to pay more for less with the hare hikes close on the heels of the worst service cuts in many decades," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign.

"They know they can always count on the riders to pay more when all else fails. We're here to say no, that's not right," said Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives.

The full MTA board will vote on the fare hike in late October.

Four more public hearings will be held this week -- one in each borough.

The hearings come as the MTA has implemented some new service cuts on the Long Island Rail Road.

Riders are dealing with some new service reductions, as the agency implements the second round of budget related cuts.

New timetables are in effect for riders on several branches. Some trains have been eliminated altogether – including overnight scheduled service between Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn and Jamaica Station.

The Port Washington line, which has eight stops in Queens, is also hit particularly hard with 14 fewer trains on weekdays.

The MTA says the reductions will save almost a million dollars this year, and nearly $4 million annually starting next year.

For a full list of timetable changes, visit mta.info/lirr.