The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has officially announced its proposals for fare hikes that “will bring in “vitally needed revenue to support the New York region’s transportation system.”
There are four options on the table:
Two options keep the base fare at $2.25; the other two raise it to $2.50.
The cost of a weekly unlimited MetroCard would go up from $29 to $34 and the monthly from $104 to $125. The seven percent discount for every $10 put on a MetroCard would be lowered to five percent.
The second option would raise unlimited rides to $32 and $119, but eliminate the discount.
If the MTA raises the base fare to $2.50, then straphangers would keep the seven percent discount, but pay more for an unlimited MetroCard ($30 and $112).
The final option would keep weekly unlimited MetroCards at $29, and only increase the monthly by $5, but the base fare would be $2.50, and there would be no discounts.
MTA officials also came up with four proposals for express buses. And tolls at area bridges and tunnels would go up too.
And though usually we are fans of options, in this case, not so much.
Whatever way you slice it, it means more money out of our pockets, since these hikes would be the fourth increase in five years for subway, bus and commuter rail fares.
And though the MTA is letting the public weigh in on the options in a series of public and video forums, we have the sinking — or should we say rising — suspicion that the commuters are going to lose out.
