(The following article by Joie Tyrrell was posted on the Newsday website on December 17.)
NEW YORK — It’s enough to make Dashing Dan cry.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved the second fare hike for Long Island Rail Road commuters in two years yesterday, putting an average 5 percent price increase on track for March.
Although railroad officials said no major service cuts were in store, the 2005 budget also calls for fewer train and station cleaning crews, as well as cutbacks on maintenance for equipment and signals, which could mean more trains out of service. A dozen ticket windows Islandwide will close on weekends and at least 20 trains will be eliminated.
“They are getting a double whammy — they are going to pay more and get less,” said Beverly Dolinsky, executive director of the LIRR Commuter’s Council. “What got us into trouble years ago was deferring maintenance, you have more breakdowns.”
The $1.1 billion LIRR spending plan also calls for trimming certain discounts, meaning some commuters will see more than what MTA officials have said was an average 5 percent price increase. For example, one-way off-peak tickets to and from Penn Station will rise between 5 and 15 percent, 10-trip off-peak tickets will rise 4 to 15 percent and riders who purchase joint MetroCards and monthly LIRR tickets will face increases of 9 to 11 percent.
For monthly riders, the bulk of the LIRR’s passengers, prices will increase 5 to 6 percent. One-way peak fares will rise from 4 to 7 percent.
“This fare hike is full of misdirection and deception. The company line is that it is a ‘Five Percent’ hike — but that is not true,” said Peter Haynes, president of the LIRR Commuter’s Campaign, an independent riders’ advocacy group.
MTA spokesman Tom Kelly said yesterday the average price increase will be 5 percent for the bulk of riders on the MTA’s commuter railroads, including the LIRR and MetroNorth. The board also approved the budget for Long Island Bus.
Unlimited weekly MetroCard prices will go from $21 to $24. Unlimited monthly MetroCard prices will rise from $70 to $76.
“I don’t think anything has been brought out that hasn’t been spoken about before,” said MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow.
It’s not the end, either.
Kalikow said yesterday another fare hike is possible for 2007. He thanked the board members for “doing a tough job and doing the right job.” Pataki appoints six members, the largest bloc on the 14-member board. They all voted for the spending plan, which passed 10-4. All four of Mayor Bloomberg’s representatives rejected it. Both Long Island delegates approved it as did the representatives from the other suburban counties.
“We have to have a balanced budget and I did the responsible thing and voted for it,” said Board member Al Werner, of Suffolk County.
But Haynes’ group has called for Werner’s resignation, saying he was a “puppet” of Gov. Pataki. LIRR commuters were hit with an average 25 percent fare increase in 2003.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said he was “disappointed” in Werner’s vote. Werner was appointed to the board by previous county executive Robert Gaffney, and Levy has been trying to replace him.
“I don’t believe it went the way we wanted it,” Levy said.
Critics said the MTA should have tapped a $240 million reserve fund that they are holding over for 2006. MTA officials have said the money is needed to stave off severe service cuts scheduled for then. The agency faces a $900 million deficit next year.
In other budget news for 2005, the on-board penalty fare for passengers who purchase tickets on the train will go from $3 to $5. The railroad will cut one of its four heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair crews, reduce cleaning up garbage alongside the tracks and increase parking fees.
“We are reviewing all aspects of revenue enhancements,” said LIRR spokesman Brian Dolan. “We hope these changes do not affect service.”
The board also approved increasing tolls on major crossings by 50 cents.
The MTA still must find funding for its 2005 to 2009 capital plan, that includes the costly mega-project of East Side Access. State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), railed at the agency yesterday, saying he will veto the $27.6 billion plan by the end of the month, because it is too costly and fails to prioritize the agency’s needs.
Citing recent news reports of salary increases given to top MTA staff, Skelos has asked for detailed salary and bonus information of MTA executive staff.
“The board members are elected to challenge management and they are not challenging management,” Skelos said. “They are rubber stamping what management is telling them.”
Bayside commuter Chris Kolb, 22, said, of the fare hike, “I don’t get a raise this year, so coming up with the extra money is going to be tough.”
Bob Wieczorek, who commutes from Cold Spring Harbor, “I think if they raised the fares, they should get the trains to be able to run on time.”