MTA fares go up again

When subway and bus riders swipe their MetroCards on their way to work next week, chances are they’ll be paying a little extra as the new Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) fares go into effect March 2.
Although the MTA is keeping its base fare for a single ride MetroCard at $2, commuters who purchase pay-per-ride and unlimited cards will not get the same bang for their buck.
“I think it’s crazy,” said Chantell Brown, an office clerk who takes two city buses to go from Richmond Hill to College Point to get to work. “The fares go up too often and too much.”
In December of 2007, the MTA Board approved a fare increase that would reduce discounts on pay-per-ride cards from 20 to 15 percent and increase rates for a seven-day unlimited ride card from $24 to $25 and the 30-day unlimited ride card from $76 to $81.
Many riders remembered hearing about the proposed fare hike in December, but did not know specifics about the increases or the date the new rates would go into effect.
“I think it’s [the fare increase] ridiculous,” said 18-year-old John Bolan who takes two buses to go from Jamaica to Flushing every morning. “Technology keeps upgrading, but you don’t see the service upgrading at all.”
City Councilmember John Liu, who Chairs the Council’s Transportation Committee, said he has not seen any new MTA efforts to publicize the increased rates, nor did he say they should publicize it.
“But, they [MTA] should be prepared for the confusion that will undoubtedly [ensue],” he warned.
In addition, some riders expressed concern that the new rates on the popular $10 or $20 MetroCards would leave them with uneven amounts of money on their cards.
Tony Lago, a sales manager who takes the No. 7 Train into Manhattan six days per week for work, said he usually buys a $20 card and then throws it away when it’s finished. Now, he said he’ll have to remember to hold onto his card so he doesn’t lose any money.
“That just means wasting more time standing in line to refill your card,” Lago said.
However, Winston Coley, who takes the Q44 bus from Flushing to Jamaica where he is an active member of one of the local churches, said he would be OK with paying the higher fares if the riders got something in return.
“If the service is going to be better than it’s worth it,” Coley said.
In addition to increased fares on the subways and buses, many Queens commuters who use the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) can expect to see ticket prices increase by $.25 for one-way trips into and out of Penn Station.
Although the new LIRR rates will go into effect on Saturday, March 1, LIRR spokesperson Sam Zambuto said that the LIRR would continue to honor tickets purchased before March 1 at no additional charge for the life of the ticket - six months for one-way tickets and one year for 10 trip tickets.

CURRENT FARE