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MTA May Cut Fun Pass, Raise Monthly Metrocard $10-15
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 27, 2010
Modified Jul 27, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 27, 2010
Modified Jul 27, 2010
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The time has come to put away touristy things: tomorrow the full MTA board will propose the elimination of the one day "Fun Pass" MetroCard, which was introduced as a boon for tourists back in 1998. But the passport to fun has been abused by subway scammers, who use it to sell discounted $2 swipes to commuters. The MTA is also expected to scrap the 14-day unlimited MetroCard, which is only used by 2% of commuters. On the plus side, there's now a chance that the weekly and monthly unlimited MetroCards will survive without limitations, albeit at a higher cost.
The MTA is reportedly considering two options for the Unlimited MetroCards: For the weekly, a fare increase from $27 to $28, with a 22-trip limit on rides; or an increase to $29, with no limit. For the monthly, the MTA will consider either a fare increase from $89 to $99 with a 90-trip limit; or a significant increase to $104, with no limit. In addition, the pay-per-ride bonus will be slashed from 15 percent to seven percent. Also on the table: 50 cent increases tolls for major bridges and tunnels, as well as cuts to the "off peak" discounts on the LIRR.
Second Avenue Sagas notes that by 2011, the fare hikes will have outstripped inflation by nearly 25 percent since Unlimited MetroCards were introduced in 1998. To push back, Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives is leading a "Riders' Rebellion" campaign to fight the fare hikes in Albany. "We will be asking riders to sign a riders' bill of rights," White tells NY1. "This bill of rights outlines exactly what the state should be doing for the region's eight million subway and bus riders—affordable fares, clean safe, accessible stations. These are the types of things that riders should be getting for their fare money and they're not."
"The villain here is not the MTA," says Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign. "In many ways they are as much the victim as the riders are. They had $143 million cut from their budget and, as a result, their customers were hit with the worst service cuts in decades. So asking the riders to pay more for less is wrong, but it's not the MTA's fault." You can watch tomorrow's MTA board debate live online here. After laying out the options, the MTA will hold public hearings in September and then make a final decision about the various plans.
Tagged
bus
fare hike
metrocard
MTA
nyc transit
subway
unlimited metrocard
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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