2008 Woodie Awards
MTA hike too much?
Proposed increase in MTA fares will frustrate the commuters.
Margaret Dukes, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/3/07Section: Editorials and Opinion
As commuters, when we hear of the Metropolitan Transit Authority proposing another fare hike can you blame us for rolling our eyes?
On September 24, the MTA offered two options for raising the fare and toll revenue to 6.5 percent next year. The original $2 bus and subway fare would jump to $2.25 next year, but commuters can get a break if the MTA uses a new method in which they will offer new peak and off-peak pricing discounts. They believe with these discounts the rush-hour crowds can be reduced.
The MTA has two possible plans for bus and subway riders, including those commuters who drive, using bridges and tunnels. Both options would raise the original fare to $2.25.
The first would be to increase fare prices within the present fare structure. Authorities have proposed raising the price of a 7-day unlimited card, which is now $24 to as high as $26, and taking a 30-day MetroCard now $76 to as high as $82. Those riders putting $10 on a MetroCard would still get an extra $2 bonus, but they will not get very far with the new $2.25 fare.
The other proposition would be to make it cheaper to ride during off-peak hours. With this plan MetroCards would no longer carry a bonus and would be strictly pay-per-ride.
A discount would be available to anyone who puts at least $6 on a pay-per-ride MetroCard. During peak hours, passengers with those cards would be charged $2 for each ride, a discount from the new $2.25 base fare.
A discounted fare of $1.50 would be available to MetroCard users during off-peak hours. The MTA still has not determined which hours would be considered peak travel time, but officials say it would most likely coincide with the morning and evening rushes.
Susan Kupferman, the MTA Chief Operating Officer believes rush-hour overcrowding could be ceased if some commuters shifted the times of their trips. "Even a small percentage shift equates to millions of rides a year," she said.
Honestly, who is willing to interrupt their travel time in order to be charged less? As commuters we are faced with deadlines and busy schedules, therefore we do not have time to create our schedules around the MTA.
On September 24, the MTA offered two options for raising the fare and toll revenue to 6.5 percent next year. The original $2 bus and subway fare would jump to $2.25 next year, but commuters can get a break if the MTA uses a new method in which they will offer new peak and off-peak pricing discounts. They believe with these discounts the rush-hour crowds can be reduced.
The MTA has two possible plans for bus and subway riders, including those commuters who drive, using bridges and tunnels. Both options would raise the original fare to $2.25.
The first would be to increase fare prices within the present fare structure. Authorities have proposed raising the price of a 7-day unlimited card, which is now $24 to as high as $26, and taking a 30-day MetroCard now $76 to as high as $82. Those riders putting $10 on a MetroCard would still get an extra $2 bonus, but they will not get very far with the new $2.25 fare.
The other proposition would be to make it cheaper to ride during off-peak hours. With this plan MetroCards would no longer carry a bonus and would be strictly pay-per-ride.
A discount would be available to anyone who puts at least $6 on a pay-per-ride MetroCard. During peak hours, passengers with those cards would be charged $2 for each ride, a discount from the new $2.25 base fare.
A discounted fare of $1.50 would be available to MetroCard users during off-peak hours. The MTA still has not determined which hours would be considered peak travel time, but officials say it would most likely coincide with the morning and evening rushes.
Susan Kupferman, the MTA Chief Operating Officer believes rush-hour overcrowding could be ceased if some commuters shifted the times of their trips. "Even a small percentage shift equates to millions of rides a year," she said.
Honestly, who is willing to interrupt their travel time in order to be charged less? As commuters we are faced with deadlines and busy schedules, therefore we do not have time to create our schedules around the MTA.
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