MTA Announces Plan To Hike Fares, Tolls 4 Percent Over 2 Years
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Riding mass transit or driving across some bridges in New York City might become more expensive next year.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to increase fares and tolls by around 4 percent over the next two years. The proposed hikes, announced Monday, would take effect next March.
Public hearings are planned in December. The MTA said its board may modify the proposals before voting on them in January.
MTA Announces Plan To Hike Fares, Tolls 4 Percent Over 2 Years
The agency has published a table that includes details of the proposed changes. Click here to see the table.
As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, under one scenario, the base fare of a subway or bus ride would go up a quarter, from $2.50 to $2.75, while increasing the bonus on a pay-per-ride MetroCard.
MTA Announces Plan To Hike Fares, Tolls 4 Percent Over 2 Years
A second proposal would keep the base fare the same, but decrease the bonus.
Under both plans, the weekly and monthly MetroCards would cost more.
That means the one-way toll on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge could go up $1 to $16.
Increases of roughly 4 percent also are proposed for many travelers on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, as well as tolls for tunnels and bridges.
One straphanger called the increase ridiculous.
"Sign of the times and people will keep voting these same clowns in all the time," Anthony told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria.
MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast said the agency has managed to cut $1 billion in spending, adding the modest toll and fare increase is necessary to balance the budget.
The MTA says it has cut over $1 billion from its annual spending and plans to do more.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
