October 19, 2004
MTA Fare Increases In 2006 AND 2007
The MTA not only mentioned the fare hike for 2006 but also warned about another fare hike in 2007, due to the budget deficit that will just keeping ballooning. Why is there a crazy deficit ($400 million more expected for next year, on top of the the current $700 million gap)? The lack of city and state aid in recent years. The MTA acknowledges this is a challenge and emphasizes the need for more aid from the city and state governments. The NY Times notes Straphangers' spokeperson Gene Russianoff saying, "Enough is enough. The governor needs to step forward now if he wants to prevent continual price hikes and service cuts." Word. The NYT also has an assemblyman saying the 2006 increase is looking to by about 25% in 2006, and some say the increase could be as high as 50% over the next seven years. Oh, boy. To beat a dead horse, Gothamist totally understands that keeping the NYC transit system takes a lot of money, and we're grateful for what we get, but having fare hikes year after year (or two) just gets wearying. We wonder if the MTA should become semi-privatized, to clean up the books a little - just something so the bulk of the New Yorkers were really rely on the system can take advantage of it. Oh, and it would be nice if the state could kick in some more money.
The Daily News has an editorial about the MTA "railroading straphangers": "The MTA will hold hearings to take riders' plaints before sticking them with yet another steep fare increase and service reductions. When that happens, just remember who's ultimately responsible: [Governor] George Pataki, [State Senator] Joe Bruno and [Assembly Speaker] Sheldon Silver. They'll disagree. We know better."
Gothamist on the proposed fare hike and all our posts on the MTA.
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What's that sound? Oh, yeah, it's the stampede of businesses and people leaving New York City.
What happened to their surplus?
Maybe if the service was currently at a level where I could say "Wow, I really feel like I'm getting my $70/mo worth", maybe the thought of a hike wouldn't be such a pain in the ass. But who can forget the great subway washout of a month ago?
Suggestion to the MTA: Postpone the 2nd Ave line and 7 expansion projects, both of which are scheduled to start construction by the end of the year, until you figure out someway to pay for it.
If the MTA needs money, why is Pataki planning to give away the air rights to the Atlantic yards to Bruce Ratner? Kalikow says it's work approximately $1 billion ! How come this isn't a standard talking point in stories about the proposed fare increase?
see:
http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol27/27_31/27_31nets2.html
Why not shut the whole system down and take all of the money that wont be going to under-achieving employees just looking to collect their pension, corrupt union heads, shifty real estate developers and politicians and give everyone a Segway! Or better yet, a good bicycle.
It's not like the service is going to improve with the increased fares.
privatizing the MTA would be worse.
hey hstencil ... i'd love to see you back that opinion up with some rationale. every public service in this city is a fiscal and operational disaster! privatization just might be our best option.
I just had an orgasm reading that post. The MTA turns me on with their hikes.
ik hate the mta it sucks that i have to pay more money. i am going to get poor from this shit.