MTA to tell commuters: Take a hike!
BY PETE DONOHUE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, October 5th, 2004
Forget about being spared a fare hike next year.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking to Albany for financial help - but only for its capital plan and operating deficits in 2006 and beyond, a top agency official said yesterday.
With no support from Albany on tap, a bus and subway fare hike in 2005 is inevitable, transportation officials and advocates said. "It will be very tough to fight the fare hike," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign.
MTA Executive Director Katherine Lapp yesterday outlined the agency's daunting fiscal hurdles before an Assembly hearing on Staten Island. "Our plea to you is to help us fund the capital plan and, as we get closer to 2006, help to support our operating plan," she said.
The MTA's proposed five-year capital plan - including station rehabilitations, new subway cars and a Second Ave. line - has a funding gap of about $15 billion.
In the day-to-day operations, matters also are bleak. For next year, the MTA forecasts a $436million operating budget gap, which it plans to fill partly by hiking subway, bus and commuter rail fares, as well as bridge and tunnel tolls.
Monthly unlimited MetroCards would rise by $6, to $76, and weekly cards by $3, to $24. Officials hope to keep the base bus and subway fare at $2 through 2007.
Cutbacks, including closing many token booths, also are on track. Such cuts can be averted if the MTA board votes this year for even higher fare hikes, Lapp said.
Even with a hike next year and a possible increase in 2007, the operating budget gaps - thanks largely to rising debt payments and pension costs - will be huge in 2006, 2007 and 2008, she said.
Lapp urged riders to come to future Assembly and MTA hearings to argue for more government aid, which advocates agree is critical.
BY PETE DONOHUE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, October 5th, 2004
Forget about being spared a fare hike next year.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking to Albany for financial help - but only for its capital plan and operating deficits in 2006 and beyond, a top agency official said yesterday.
With no support from Albany on tap, a bus and subway fare hike in 2005 is inevitable, transportation officials and advocates said. "It will be very tough to fight the fare hike," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign.
MTA Executive Director Katherine Lapp yesterday outlined the agency's daunting fiscal hurdles before an Assembly hearing on Staten Island. "Our plea to you is to help us fund the capital plan and, as we get closer to 2006, help to support our operating plan," she said.
The MTA's proposed five-year capital plan - including station rehabilitations, new subway cars and a Second Ave. line - has a funding gap of about $15 billion.
In the day-to-day operations, matters also are bleak. For next year, the MTA forecasts a $436million operating budget gap, which it plans to fill partly by hiking subway, bus and commuter rail fares, as well as bridge and tunnel tolls.
Monthly unlimited MetroCards would rise by $6, to $76, and weekly cards by $3, to $24. Officials hope to keep the base bus and subway fare at $2 through 2007.
Cutbacks, including closing many token booths, also are on track. Such cuts can be averted if the MTA board votes this year for even higher fare hikes, Lapp said.
Even with a hike next year and a possible increase in 2007, the operating budget gaps - thanks largely to rising debt payments and pension costs - will be huge in 2006, 2007 and 2008, she said.
Lapp urged riders to come to future Assembly and MTA hearings to argue for more government aid, which advocates agree is critical.
I'm usually reading when I'm on the train though as well. I usually get off/on in DC down at the Farragut stop, on a slightly off note is there anywhere in that area K Street, Conneticut Ave, 18th Street, etc... where you can get a lunch for a decent price? Geez....