(Newsday posted the following article by Joie Tyrrell on its website on October 28.)
NEW YORK — To subway riders, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board may seem like Santa Claus. But for Long Islanders who take the railroad each day, the Grinch is more like it.
By a vote of 12-2, the board approved holiday discounts yesterday that critics call much more generous for subway and bus riders. They will pay half-fares on holidays and weekends from Thanksgiving until Jan. 2 and pay half-fare during the last week of December. MetroCard holders will also receive bonus days.
LIRR riders purchasing December monthly tickets will receive a free 10-trip pass good through the end of February that they can give away, but travel must be at off-peak times. Weekly ticket holders will get one free off-peak ticket. There are no daily discounts for LIRR riders.
Some say the MTA could find better uses for its $900 million-plus surplus.
“I don’t believe this is the right way to use the funds and the suburban commuters are being treated inequitably,” said Mitch Pally, Suffolk’s representative to the MTA Board, who voted against the proposal. “The city rider gets peak rides. The Long Island Rail Road and MetroNorth rider only gets off-peak rides, which they cannot use commuting to and from work.”
MTA officials proposed the holiday discount at a cost of $50 million, a small part of the burgeoning surplus from revenues from soaring real estate taxes and low interest rates. Executive Director Katie Lapp said $700 million of the surplus is non-recurring.
About 60 percent of the LIRR’s 90,000 daily rush-hour riders take subways as well and MTA officials said the 10 free trips offer an average value of $60. The bulk of the LIRR’s riders hold monthly tickets but can give the free passes to anyone.
The subway and bus discounts apply to Long Island Bus riders, too.
“We worked out a package which rewards all of those who ride our system,” said MTA chairman Peter Kalikow. “It wasn’t quite perfect. I’ll probably admit that, but I think it was very nice and I am proud of the board for giving this holiday present to all of our customers.”
Commuter reaction was mixed. “It’s a good idea,” said monthly ticketholder Christina Naslonski, 30, of Levittown. “Tickets are expensive. I’d like to see them lower the fares, too, but that’s another story.”
Peter Suh, 30, of Bayside, said he doesn’t need the free tickets. “This doesn’t help me,” he said.
MTA officials are considering a similar proposal in 2006 but are also looking at what else to do with the unexpected surplus. Gov. George Pataki issued a statement Wednesday saying the MTA should use the surplus for transit projects in lower Manhattan.
MTA officials have said another fare hike is possible in 2007.
Yesterday, state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) told the board that more needs to be done for LIRR commuters, who don’t benefit as much from the discounts.
“It fails to address the Long Island Rail Road’s falling ridership and the serious challenges confronting the MTA in 2006 and beyond,” Skelos said.
“Where are the new discounts that provide a real incentive to commuters? They’re not there.”