(The following story by Alfonso A. Castillo appeared on the Newsday website on March 25, 2009.)
NEW YORK — With time having run out to balance the MTA’s budget amid an unprecedented fiscal crisis, the MTA board reluctantly voted Wednesday morning to approve massive fare hikes in public transit.
In a series of identical 12-1 votes, the Metropolitan Transportation Association’s board raised subway, bus and train fares, increased bridge and tunnel tolls, and enacted plans for severe service cuts.
The fare hikes will cost some Long Island Rail Road commuters an extra $90 a month.
The MTA gave state lawmakers until Wednesday’s meeting of the board to rescue the agency from having to implement the so-called “doomsday” budget, which looks to fill a $1.2 billion deficit. It calls for a 23 percent increase in fare revenues and service cuts that include the elimination and reduction of several LIRR trains, Long Island bus routes, and city subway and bus lines.
Tolls on MTA bridges and tunnels will also go up substantially.
The state Legislature has been so far unwilling to agree on a bail out plan, including that proposed by the Ravitch Commission and supported by the MTA and Gov. David A. Paterson. That plan includes new tolls on currently free East River and Harlem River crossings and a new payroll tax.
Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, MTA board chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger applauded elected leaders, advocates and transit riders who have supported the plan, and called out those who have blocked it.
“It’s truly sad that a few individuals could hold all those brave individuals hostage,” Hemmerdinger said. “No less than the future of the MTA and the region is at stake.”
After hearing from dozens of speakers who expressed their disappointment that the MTA had reached such a critical condition, MTA chief Elliot Sander acknowledged the vote was “extremely difficult” but said the agency was left with no “other choice.”
Board member Mitch Pally of Stony Brook, who is also the commissioner of the board’s Long Island committee, said he “hoped this day would not come.”
“This is a very sad day for all of us,” said Pally, adding that the LIRR is “not going to be able” to continue the progress it has been making under the new budget.
He also emphasized that Long Island Bus riders will be hit the hardest.
On Long Island Bus, fares would soar 75 percent, from $2 for a single ride to $3.50. LI Bus would also stop accepting unlimited ride MetroCards and would raise the minimum age to receive discount fares to 65, from the current 60.
“While I feel bad for everyone, I feel worse for them,” Pally said.
MTA vice chairman and Long Island representative David Mack similarly said that nobody wanted to take the drastic steps taken by the board, but said the alternative was worse.
“I only foresee a backward trend if we do not vote for this budget today,” said Mack, who added that he was still hopeful that Albany would send “a lifeline.”
Board member Norman Seabrook was the only member who voted against the fare hikes, saying that board members still “have some time” to find an alternative.
“We must push this envelope to the end of the table and force those in Albany to do their jobs,” he said.
The doomsday budget calls for a 23 percent hike in fare revenue across the MTA. On the Long Island Rail Road, fare increases would range from 24 percent to 29 percent.
On New York City subways, single rides would go from $2 to $2.50. A one-day unlimited MetroCard would go from $7.50 to $9.50. A seven-day unlimited MetroCard would go from $25 to $31. A 14-day unlimited MetroCard would go from $47 to $59. A 30-day unlimited MetroCard would go from $81 to $103.
Cash tolls on major bridges and tunnels would go from $5 to $6.50, and from $4.15 to $5.26 for E-ZPass users. Cash tolls on minor bridges and tunnels would go from $2.50 to $3.2. 5. E-ZPass tolls on minor bridges would go from $1.55 to $1.96.
The fare hikes are expected to take effect in June.
Service cuts would be put in place beginning in May. They include eliminating service on the LIRR’s West Hempstead branch on weekends and canceling and reducing some other trains. The LIRR would also extend maintenance cycles on trains and scale back on clean up and graffiti removal efforts at stations.
Long Island Bus would eliminate several lines under the implemented budget.