Comments on: Fare hike returns seem meager http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/ A New York City Subway Blog Wed, 23 May 2012 12:49:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1029 Marc Shepherd Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:46:13 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1029 Julia, I do know that "bought" doesn't necessarily mean "paid for." But with the South Ferry station improvements, it really does mean that. This project is totally funded by Federal post-9/11 money that is already committed. Now, the Second Avenue Subway is a different story. They don't even have full funding for Phase I (though they are quite close), and they certainly don't have it for any of the later phases. Gary, I fully agree that fare increases are regressive. Unfortunately, the only other option is a government subsidy, and these days you just can't get a majority of the legislature to approve the tax increases to pay for it. The MTA can't control who's in the legislature, so they have to play the hand they are dealt. Of course, the legislature itself helped to create this problem, by authorizing an unrealistic level of borrowing in past years, which now needs to be paid back. Having said that, the current base fare of $2 doesn't look that bad when you look at other subway systems. And in any case, practically all regular riders take advantage of discounts, and don't pay $2 anyway. Julia, I do know that “bought” doesn’t necessarily mean “paid for.” But with the South Ferry station improvements, it really does mean that. This project is totally funded by Federal post-9/11 money that is already committed. Now, the Second Avenue Subway is a different story. They don’t even have full funding for Phase I (though they are quite close), and they certainly don’t have it for any of the later phases.

Gary, I fully agree that fare increases are regressive. Unfortunately, the only other option is a government subsidy, and these days you just can’t get a majority of the legislature to approve the tax increases to pay for it. The MTA can’t control who’s in the legislature, so they have to play the hand they are dealt. Of course, the legislature itself helped to create this problem, by authorizing an unrealistic level of borrowing in past years, which now needs to be paid back.

Having said that, the current base fare of $2 doesn’t look that bad when you look at other subway systems. And in any case, practically all regular riders take advantage of discounts, and don’t pay $2 anyway.

]]> By: Julia http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1030 Julia Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:06:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1030 This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I'm OK with the idea of letting fares rise with inflation. To me, the fact that there are no Big Ideas being funded by the fare increase means that it really is just to pay for the increased cost of doing business.** But I want congestion pricing, too, and responsible budgeting by the MTA. Fares should go up when they need to, but in balancing fares, tolls, etc., public transit HAS to remain more attractive and accessible than driving. (Clyde Haberman points out in the Times today that the price of a slice of pizza -- which has always tracked the price of a subway fare remarkably closely-- has climbed over $2 recently, too.) ** A note to Marc Shepherd: when it comes to big capital projects, never assume that "bought" also means "paid for"! This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I’m OK with the idea of letting fares rise with inflation. To me, the fact that there are no Big Ideas being funded by the fare increase means that it really is just to pay for the increased cost of doing business.** But I want congestion pricing, too, and responsible budgeting by the MTA. Fares should go up when they need to, but in balancing fares, tolls, etc., public transit HAS to remain more attractive and accessible than driving.

(Clyde Haberman points out in the Times today that the price of a slice of pizza — which has always tracked the price of a subway fare remarkably closely– has climbed over $2 recently, too.)

** A note to Marc Shepherd: when it comes to big capital projects, never assume that “bought” also means “paid for”!

]]> By: Gary http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1031 Gary Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:16:18 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1031 To follow on Marc Shepard's point, many of Bloomberg's initiatives in PlaNYC were previously planned as well. I personally don't think a fare hike is remotely justifiable. If you want to talk about a regressive tax hike, it doesn't get any more regressive than this. Why aren't more people outraged about this? Yes, the system needs funds . . . a LOT more funds, for improvements and expansion. But funding them on the backs of the little guy, when income inequality is at it's worst level in 80 years, is an outrage. It's time we looked at all of the underlying financing schemes for mass transit in this city, and whether historical debt (the true source of the fiscal crisis coming down the pike) should be assumed by the city and/or state. A fare increase is not the answer, and these pathetic improvements offered as a trade-off are a slap in the face to every hard-working New yorker who rides the rails. Come to think of it, this will make a good blog post. Rant off. To follow on Marc Shepard’s point, many of Bloomberg’s initiatives in PlaNYC were previously planned as well.

I personally don’t think a fare hike is remotely justifiable. If you want to talk about a regressive tax hike, it doesn’t get any more regressive than this.

Why aren’t more people outraged about this? Yes, the system needs funds . . . a LOT more funds, for improvements and expansion. But funding them on the backs of the little guy, when income inequality is at it’s worst level in 80 years, is an outrage.

It’s time we looked at all of the underlying financing schemes for mass transit in this city, and whether historical debt (the true source of the fiscal crisis coming down the pike) should be assumed by the city and/or state.

A fare increase is not the answer, and these pathetic improvements offered as a trade-off are a slap in the face to every hard-working New yorker who rides the rails.

Come to think of it, this will make a good blog post. Rant off.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1034 Marc Shepherd Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:05:42 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1034 Some of the service improvements they're taking credit for were really baked into the plan already --- for instance, ADA accessibility at the South Ferry station. Something that was already bought and paid-for shouldn't be touted as a service improvement connected to the fare increase. Some of the service improvements they’re taking credit for were really baked into the plan already — for instance, ADA accessibility at the South Ferry station. Something that was already bought and paid-for shouldn’t be touted as a service improvement connected to the fare increase.

]]> By: Friday Linkage « http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1033 Friday Linkage « Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:03:14 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1033 [...] What would we get from those potential MTA increases? [SecondAveSagas] [...] [...] What would we get from those potential MTA increases? [SecondAveSagas] [...]

]]> By: Harlan http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1032 Harlan Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:11:10 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1032 Just a note about the new 160s for the L line. One of the reasons they haven't been able to use the fancy new computerized train control system is that not all of the trains on the line have the systems yet. Presumably the new 160s will, and once all of the trains have computerized control, they'll be able to increase the number of trains per hour at peak times and reduce crowding and delays as a result! Just a note about the new 160s for the L line. One of the reasons they haven’t been able to use the fancy new computerized train control system is that not all of the trains on the line have the systems yet. Presumably the new 160s will, and once all of the trains have computerized control, they’ll be able to increase the number of trains per hour at peak times and reduce crowding and delays as a result!

]]> By: TLC http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1035 TLC Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:34:35 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/07/27/fare-hike-returns-seem-meager/#comment-1035 I'm just curious... do you know how many of the MTA's promises from the last fare hike were actually fulfilled? I’m just curious… do you know how many of the MTA’s promises from the last fare hike were actually fulfilled?

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