Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

MTA Ready To Approve Fare Hike, Service Cut "Disaster"

By

Jen Chung

Published Mar 24, 2009

Modified Mar 24, 2009

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 .

Photograph by nschaden on Flickr

 

By

Jen Chung

Published Mar 24, 2009

Modified Mar 24, 2009

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

After the MTA's Finance Committee voted yesterday to approve a package of severe fare increases (hello, $103 monthly unlimited Metrocard) and drastic service cuts (good-bye, W and Z lines; farewell, bus routes—see the PDF of NYC Transit changes here), MTA board member Allen Cappelli said, "There are 45 hours left before this disaster goes into effect." The MTA board is scheduled to vote on the fare hikes tomorrow.

However, in spite of pleas from MTA management—chairman Dale Hemmerdinger told the NY Times his message to Albany, "How about just, ‘Help'"—the State Legislature appears to be deadlocked (or playing a really ridiculous game of chicken) over how to rescue the MTA. In one corner, there's Governor Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who support a plan to raise subway/ bus fares by 8%, put tolls on East River and Harlem River Bridges and implement a payroll tax (all considered necessary to help with the MTA's debt) while Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's proposal offers a 4% fare hike, no bridge tolls, and a smaller payroll tax (considered to be flawed, because its numbers were miscalculated and might require a 13% fare hike).

Paterson, who has unsuccessfully called upon Republican State Senators to push his and Silver's plan in the Senate, said the MTA should approve its "doomsday" budget since, essentially, Albany can't get its head out of its ass, "Delaying action, to me, would just ring too true to what's gone on in Albany too many times." See how service cuts will affect you, via a tool from the Comptroller Thompson's office. Here's a PDF of the proposed NYC Transit changes, after the jump, the proposed subway/bus fare hikes:

Tagged

fare hikes

MTA

MTA bailout

rescue plan

service cuts

state senate

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Brooklyn woman hit and killed by garbage truck at peak time for traffic deaths, NYPD says

At a time of year when traffic deaths rise due to reduced visibility, 30-year-old Siobhan Lynch was struck and killed just after dusk.

By

Ryan Kost

Published Oct 29, 2026 at 7:54 a.m. ET

NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.

Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.

By

David Brand

News

NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.

Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.

By

David Brand

Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.

By

Stephen Nessen

Man killed in police-involved shooting in Moonachie, NJ

By

Kaya Laterman

Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days

By

Charles Lane

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 .