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Pre-Fare Hike Unlimited Metrocard Chaos In UES Station
By
Billy Parker
Published Aug 5, 2009
Modified Aug 5, 2009
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By
Billy Parker
Published Aug 5, 2009
Modified Aug 5, 2009
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When one Upper East Side subway station was not prepared for the final transition over to the newly-priced unlimited Metrocards post-fare hike, straphangers freaked the fudge out. The Post describesthe scene at the 86th Street station for the 4, 5, 6 where commuters were "banging the station agent booth window, crying, and forming lines that were 30-people deep at the card vending machines — until one broke down." Since yesterday was the end of the grace period for monthly cards purchased at the pre-fare hike rates, many were forced to exchange their $81 cards when they wouldn't swipe. The station had a mere 50 pre-paid envelopes to give to riders to mail their not fully-used MetroCards back to the MTA for a pro-rated reimbursement that were quickly snatched up, adding to the chaos. The Post says there wasn't even a sign up letting riders know that their old cards wouldn't work. While a NYCT spokesman has already apologized to riders, one commuter told the paper, "I'm hot, frustrated, and they should have honored the old cards. This is bull." No word on if he was crying while quoted.
Tagged
fare hike
grace period
metrocards
morning commute
MTA
station agents
unlimited metrocard
upper east side
Billy Parker
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