By Jacqueline Hlavenka
Subway riders spoke out-and New York City listened.
After a series of public hearings throughout the tri-state area, Governor Eliot Spitzer announced on November 21 that the base subway and bus fares would stay at $2-for now.
According to Spitzer, the proposed 25-cent increase planned for February will remain unchanged through 2009. In order to temporarily fill the $6 billion budget gap, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will use a $220 million surplus from taxes to keep the fares down.
In response, New Yorkers commended Spitzer for his decision.
"I respect Governor Spitzer for making a tough decision and I congratulate him for leading from the front," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "We need to know how the MTA is going to dedicate the money needed to expand service to communities that currently aren't being served by public transit and to improve service to communities that are."
Though the $2 base fare will remain the same, multi-ride discount cards, fares for the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, and tolls for MTA bridges and tunnels may still increase in February.
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) said Gov. Spitzer and MTA Executive Director Elliot Sander would need to "clarify" the amounts for those not paying the regular base fares.
"The governor's proposal still leaves New Yorkers subject to massive fare and toll increases," Brodsky said in a statement. "But it is unclear which New Yorkers will pay which increases and why choices were made to help some and not others. We need that information quickly as we go forward with our request that the MTA defer any fare decision until the Governor's budget is proposed and acted on."
Organizations such as the NYC Straphanger's Campaign and the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee have protested against the fare hike and posted online materials about alternatives the MTA can use to improve service. The Office of the New York City Comptroller said they identified a number of potential revenue sources that would not only keep down the fare, but address long-standing inequities in the distribution of transit subsidies.
"Many state legislators have expressed enthusiasm over our proposals, and it is my hope that they will make use of them in the coming legislative session to prevent any fare or toll increases in the foreseeable future," New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson said in a statement. "New Yorkers deserve nothing less."
Spitzer said he would work toward finding $600 million for the MTA's budget by 2010 to prevent future deficits.
Commuters may not face immediate hikes in subway fares, but the MTA may raise fares early next year for the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, and MTA bridges and tunnels. (Jacqueline Hlavenka)