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The MTA says it needs to raise fares by 7.5 percent in January to close its budget gap.

Officials say the hike is necessary to make up the revenue lost when the state cut millions of dollars from its budget. But those who spoke at the hearing say they're being taken for a ride.

"Fifteen dollars may not seem like a lot to you, and as a single person who works every day and who has to work with what I had, $15 is not in my budget. It really isn't . So now I have to make a choice. Do I buy a MetroCard? Do I buy food? You can see I like to eat. Or do I pay my rent? I shouldn't be forced to make that choice," said one Staten Island resident.

MTA officials are considering plans that would raise the price of a seven-day card to $28 with a 22 ride limit, or $29 for unlimited rides.

For a 30-day card, customers would pay $99 for 90 rides, or $104 for an unlimited card.

Thursday's hearing was the third of a series taking place in each borough.

For more information, visit http://www.mta.info/mta/2011_farehearing_locations.html.