BY Pete Donohue
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Updated Wednesday, March 25th 2009, 1:44 PM
Next stop: the $2.50 ride - and that's if your bus or subway is still running.
After a fiery hearing Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 12 to 1 to approve subway, bus and commuter train fare hikes from 25% to 30% and impose severe service cuts, including elimination of two subway lines and 21 local bus routes.
"Every single rider who rides or uses the system will be affected," MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger said.
Several board members and many of the nearly 20 public speakers before the vote, blamed the state Legislature - the Senate in particular - for failing to agree on a revenue-raising rider rescue plan.
"Not only is this a sad day, it's a shameful day," board member Doreen Frasca said.
Starting May 31, the monthly MetroCard, now $81, will cost $103 and a weekly MetroCard, now $25, will cost $31. The one-way bus and subway fare will rise from $2 to $2.50, a whopping 25% increase.
Commuter train fares rise June 1, while MTA bridge and tunnel tolls jump July 11. Service cuts also include longer gaps between trains and the closure of a few stations overnight.
About 3,000 subway and bus positions are being axed, which will mean about 1,000 layoffs, officials said.
Hemmerdinger praised the elected officials and many business, labor, civic and rider advocacy groups for their "courage and gravitas" in supporting the rescue plan that stalled in the state Senate. That plan, crafted by former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch, was designed to help plug MTA budget gaps in part by tolling the East and Harlem river bridges.
"It's truly sad that a few individuals can hold all these brave individuals hostage," Hemmerdinger said.
Several public speakers also blasted state senators opposing the plan, including Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn).
Felice Farber, of the General Contractors Association, excoriated senators of both parties not supporting the so-called Ravitch plan and "for putting politics ahead of what's best for their constituents."
"It's the same old story of how in Albany, political opportunism comes first and the people come second," Farber said, adding thousands of construction workers will be out of work. "The Big Apple unfortunately will become a shriveled prune."
Gene Russianoff, of the Straphangers Campaign, bemoaned the possibility that "transit fares will shoot through the roof....for less."
Civil rights l Norman Siegel, a candidate for public advocate, called on riders to boycott the transit system on June 1 "to demonstrate to you and elected officials we're not going to take it any more."
Board member Jeff Kay, a Bloomberg appointee and deputy mayor, said if the state just provides money to fill an operating budget gap of at least $1.2 billion - and doesn't also fund the separate capital construction and maintenance program - they haven't solved the fiscal crisis.
The board "will be back in two months and saying we still have a problem if they just do the politically expedient thing and not the right thing," Kay said.
MTA board members still expressed some hope a rider rescue plan is ultimately approved and they can halt or scale back hikes and service cuts.
"This is not cutting fat," said Andrew Albert, a non-voting board member and rider representative said about the service cuts. "This is cutting into the bone. This is going to make New York a very different place, and it won't be as welcoming."
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Updated Wednesday, March 25th 2009, 1:44 PM
Next stop: the $2.50 ride - and that's if your bus or subway is still running.
After a fiery hearing Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 12 to 1 to approve subway, bus and commuter train fare hikes from 25% to 30% and impose severe service cuts, including elimination of two subway lines and 21 local bus routes.
"Every single rider who rides or uses the system will be affected," MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger said.
Several board members and many of the nearly 20 public speakers before the vote, blamed the state Legislature - the Senate in particular - for failing to agree on a revenue-raising rider rescue plan.
"Not only is this a sad day, it's a shameful day," board member Doreen Frasca said.
Starting May 31, the monthly MetroCard, now $81, will cost $103 and a weekly MetroCard, now $25, will cost $31. The one-way bus and subway fare will rise from $2 to $2.50, a whopping 25% increase.
Commuter train fares rise June 1, while MTA bridge and tunnel tolls jump July 11. Service cuts also include longer gaps between trains and the closure of a few stations overnight.
About 3,000 subway and bus positions are being axed, which will mean about 1,000 layoffs, officials said.
Hemmerdinger praised the elected officials and many business, labor, civic and rider advocacy groups for their "courage and gravitas" in supporting the rescue plan that stalled in the state Senate. That plan, crafted by former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch, was designed to help plug MTA budget gaps in part by tolling the East and Harlem river bridges.
"It's truly sad that a few individuals can hold all these brave individuals hostage," Hemmerdinger said.
Several public speakers also blasted state senators opposing the plan, including Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn).
Felice Farber, of the General Contractors Association, excoriated senators of both parties not supporting the so-called Ravitch plan and "for putting politics ahead of what's best for their constituents."
"It's the same old story of how in Albany, political opportunism comes first and the people come second," Farber said, adding thousands of construction workers will be out of work. "The Big Apple unfortunately will become a shriveled prune."
Gene Russianoff, of the Straphangers Campaign, bemoaned the possibility that "transit fares will shoot through the roof....for less."
Civil rights l Norman Siegel, a candidate for public advocate, called on riders to boycott the transit system on June 1 "to demonstrate to you and elected officials we're not going to take it any more."
Board member Jeff Kay, a Bloomberg appointee and deputy mayor, said if the state just provides money to fill an operating budget gap of at least $1.2 billion - and doesn't also fund the separate capital construction and maintenance program - they haven't solved the fiscal crisis.
The board "will be back in two months and saying we still have a problem if they just do the politically expedient thing and not the right thing," Kay said.
MTA board members still expressed some hope a rider rescue plan is ultimately approved and they can halt or scale back hikes and service cuts.
"This is not cutting fat," said Andrew Albert, a non-voting board member and rider representative said about the service cuts. "This is cutting into the bone. This is going to make New York a very different place, and it won't be as welcoming."
