Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Transit Cuts, Fare Hike Are as Severe as Expected
By
Billy Parker
Published Nov 20, 2008
Modified Nov 20, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Billy Parker
Published Nov 20, 2008
Modified Nov 20, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photograph by phrenologist on Flickr
After much speculation and the local papers preparing commuters for what was to come, the MTA made their official budget proposal today and as expected, the cutbacks were dramatic. In addition to the slashing of the W and the Z lines among other cuts listed Tuesday, today's 2009 budget also included the following:
- Increasing weekend wait times by 25% on most lines
- Raising express bus fares from $5 to $7.50
- Getting rid of the X27 and X28 express-bus lines as well as 25 overnight bus routes
- Eliminating a total of 2,700 jobs
- An additional 250+ job cuts on the LIRR and Metro-North
- Slowing down the renovation of Grand Central Station and cutting back on its maintenance and cleaning
- Reducing facility security and truck weight enforcement personnel on bridge and tunnel crossings
- An even greater reliance on E-Z Pass Lanes over Cash ones
- A 23 percent fare and toll increase proposal and alternate year fare and toll increases starting in 2011
While that last point does not specify what those increases will be, it authorizes the MTA staff to begin the public hearing process for potential fare/toll increases and service cuts.
MTA heads were delivered the news with their heads hanging low. MTA Chairman Dale Hemmedinger said, "We can either cut service or we can raise fares. That’s all we can do. If we don’t balance the budget by the end of the year, we could all go to jail.” And MTA Executive Director Elliot Sander who again called the cuts "draconian" added, "They will be painful and no one at the MTA is eager to implement them...It powers our economy and we cannot allow the system to move backward at this critical moment." They both pleaded for more assistance from all levels of government.
(And to clarify the announcement from Tuesday of the "halving of the G" that was included in the cuts, the implementation of that specifically means that train will no longer run beyond Court Square in Queens.)
Tagged
bridges and tunnels
Budget cuts
buses
dale hemmedinger
E-Z Pass
Elliot Sander
express bus
fare hike
g train
j train
m train
MTA
peter vallone jr. astoria
straphangers
tolls
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ reports first West Nile Virus death of the year
While the national West Nile Virus trend has slowed down, activity in the Garden State has picked up.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 4, 2026 at 11:03 a.m. ET
NY's prison system is in crisis. It's driving staff away from the job.
The state is currently struggling with a 56% vacancy rate among prison workers.
By
Emily Russell
News
NY's prison system is in crisis. It's driving staff away from the job.
The state is currently struggling with a 56% vacancy rate among prison workers.
By
Emily Russell
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
By
Jill Webb
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .