(The following article by Joie Tyrrell was posted on Newsday.com on July 29.)
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is considering raising Long Island Rail Road fares by 5 percent and reducing off-peak service to help close its multimillion-dollar budget deficit, Newsday has learned.
In a meeting in Manhattan Thursday morning, MTA Executive Director Katie Lapp is expected to release details of the 2005 financial plan as well as budget projections for 2005 to 2008. Among the options under consideration are fare hikes for the commuter rails, which include the LIRR and MetroNorth, and LIRR schedule changes that could mean combining a number of trains, according to a source familiar with the plan. The railroad also may cut back on train service during the non-rush hours.
The agency has previously floated raising the costs of discounted multi-use MetroCards — but not the $2 base fare — to save money. The MTA raised LIRR fares by 25 percent last year and the subway fare to $2. The MTA also increased tolls by 25 cents to $1 on nine city-area bridges and tunnels. MTA officials are looking at raising those tolls again.
MTA officials remained mum Wednesday on the proposals but Lapp had directed LIRR officials earlier this year to look into cutting “internal inefficiencies and other matters” to close a gap of $540 million in 2005 that could grow to more than $1 billion in 2006.
“If I were Long Island Rail Road riders, I would be on guard,” said Gene Russianoff, lead attorney for the Straphangers Campaign.
The MTA’s gaps are due to rising debt service on bonds to pay for increased borrowing, plus growing pension, benefit and employee health costs.
Beverly Dolinsky, executive director of the LIRR Commuter’s Council, said she expects MTA officials to detail different scenarios as they have done in former budget presentations.
“I think they will say, ‘If you have to cut your budget by this much or this much or this much, what does that mean?'” she said. “This will give the public a chance to have input and let the powers that be see what it is.”
The board will vote on a final 2005 budget in December.
MTA officials are also expected to unveil the 2005 to 2009 capital plan, which likely includes funding for East Side Access linking the LIRR to Grand Central and a third track on the LIRR’s main line from Bellerose to Hicksville.