MTA Moves Ahead With Plan
With no bailout from state lawmakers expected in the near future, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today moved ahead with plans for major fare hikes and service cuts that would increase a bus or subway ride to $2.50, a 25 percent increase.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Albany this morning meeting with Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders mainly about school funding, but later implored Albany leaders to act on the MTA situation.
“We are not going to close down mass transit,” Bloomberg said. “If it takes us to raise the fares to a level that really hurts people, the alterative of closing it down would be even worse. It’s the responsibility of Albany to come up with a plan.”
Fare increases would rise by an average of 23 percent for Metro-North Railroad, and nine trains that run on the East of Hudson line would be cut, seven of those being off-peak weekday trains. The fare increases are set to take effect June 1.
The plan also includes service reductions, including eliminating some city bus lines and closing some ticket booths in Westchester County, that are part of the plan.
Bloomberg said Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, presented plans to lower the fare increases and service cuts, but “now it’s up to the Senate to do something.”
On Tuesday, Bloomberg ripped Albany for its indecision, saying “When you see what’s going to happen to your commuting costs, you should call your state legislators and say, ’I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.’”
Legislative leaders and Paterson were expected to meet again behind closed doors today to continue discussions about the MTA and the state budget, which is due by midnight Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, ripped the Legislature for inaction, calling it a “disgrace.” Senate Democrats hold a 32-30 seat majority, and no Republicans have joined Democrats in supporting their MTA bailout plan.
“While I am disappointed with the MTA’s decision today to raise fares and cut services, the failure by Democrats in Albany to agree on a plan gave them no choice,” Skelos said.
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, Westchester County, and Sen. Bill Perkins today are releasing a letter to Paterson that seeks reform of the MTA as part of any bailout package.
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I wonder if Mayor Bloomberg would offer that same advice to us Rocklanders who continue to pay to subsidize the MTA and get so very little in return? A 20% increase sounds like a lot until you realize that it turns into a dollar per day.