Comments on: Balancing the budget: fare hikes vs. service cuts http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:58:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-86104 John Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:20:27 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-86104 I didn't get around to answering this yet, but I would rather see modest service reductions than fare hikes. The reason being that bus riders on heavily used bus lines are subsidizing bus lines with very few people. Routes like the S60 at $6.83 per passenger should've never existed in their current form. I think that service reductions give the MTA a chance to find which services are unnecessary and eliminate them so they reap savings in future years. I guess the answer to this question depends on whether or not you are affected. One poster said that he would pay extra if it meant saving his bus line. However, riders on high-ridership lines like the M15, B46 and Bx12 would probably rather see service reductions as they don't use those low-ridership lines. I didn’t get around to answering this yet, but I would rather see modest service reductions than fare hikes. The reason being that bus riders on heavily used bus lines are subsidizing bus lines with very few people. Routes like the S60 at $6.83 per passenger should’ve never existed in their current form. I think that service reductions give the MTA a chance to find which services are unnecessary and eliminate them so they reap savings in future years.
I guess the answer to this question depends on whether or not you are affected. One poster said that he would pay extra if it meant saving his bus line. However, riders on high-ridership lines like the M15, B46 and Bx12 would probably rather see service reductions as they don’t use those low-ridership lines.

]]> By: John http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-77938 John Mon, 03 May 2010 23:32:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-77938 The problem is that you can only estimate since there are things to consider, like in-system transfers, turnstile jumpers, and distribution of ridership to certain lines at a particular station (For example, Times Square serves many lines and there is nobody saying who is going to which line. On a bus, the rider swipes, or the driver presses a button to count the rider if they don't pay, but in the subway, it is much less simple. The problem is that you can only estimate since there are things to consider, like in-system transfers, turnstile jumpers, and distribution of ridership to certain lines at a particular station (For example, Times Square serves many lines and there is nobody saying who is going to which line. On a bus, the rider swipes, or the driver presses a button to count the rider if they don’t pay, but in the subway, it is much less simple.

]]> By: Is a fare hike on the table for 2010? :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-74377 Is a fare hike on the table for 2010? :: Second Ave. Sagas Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:19:57 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-74377 [...] hike over a service cut. I’ve touched on this topic in a few posts since December, and I too prefer a hike over the cuts. Tom Namako has more: Increasing the cost of a ride on subways, buses and commuter rails in 2010 [...] [...] hike over a service cut. I’ve touched on this topic in a few posts since December, and I too prefer a hike over the cuts. Tom Namako has more: Increasing the cost of a ride on subways, buses and commuter rails in 2010 [...]

]]> By: Is Walder hedging on 2010 fare hikes? :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-73127 Is Walder hedging on 2010 fare hikes? :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:07:05 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-73127 [...] trains and generally less convenient service. In a poll I conducted on site a few weeks ago, 78 percent of voters agreed. Still, the cuts are coming [...] [...] trains and generally less convenient service. In a poll I conducted on site a few weeks ago, 78 percent of voters agreed. Still, the cuts are coming [...]

]]> By: The psychology of the $100 MetroCard :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-72387 The psychology of the $100 MetroCard :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:17:47 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-72387 [...] room. The Authority could always attempt to avert cuts by drastically raising fares. When I last posed a fare hike solution, 78 percent of my readers said they preferred paying more to suffering through service [...] [...] room. The Authority could always attempt to avert cuts by drastically raising fares. When I last posed a fare hike solution, 78 percent of my readers said they preferred paying more to suffering through service [...]

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-71377 Alon Levy Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:44:10 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-71377 The introduction of the MetroCard made fares drop like a stone in the 1990s. Between 1995 and 2003, the fare went from $1.50 to $1.13 for people using an unlimited monthly; in real terms, it's a 38% decline even without accounting for the free transfers. The fare has increased since, but it's still about 25% lower in real terms for someone using an unlimited monthly the average number of times. (If you use a pay-per-ride, it's only 7% lower). The introduction of the MetroCard made fares drop like a stone in the 1990s. Between 1995 and 2003, the fare went from $1.50 to $1.13 for people using an unlimited monthly; in real terms, it’s a 38% decline even without accounting for the free transfers. The fare has increased since, but it’s still about 25% lower in real terms for someone using an unlimited monthly the average number of times. (If you use a pay-per-ride, it’s only 7% lower).

]]> By: AlexB http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-71371 AlexB Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:05:53 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-71371 I like in the MTA's pdf explanation of the service cuts how you can see the operating cost per passenger. It would be nice to see the same thing for each subway line, especially the ones they are planning to eliminate and/or change. I like in the MTA’s pdf explanation of the service cuts how you can see the operating cost per passenger. It would be nice to see the same thing for each subway line, especially the ones they are planning to eliminate and/or change.

]]> By: Andrew http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-71360 Andrew Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:15:18 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-71360 It's also a good thing if you happen to want a one-seat ride from Middle Village to Midtown. It’s also a good thing if you happen to want a one-seat ride from Middle Village to Midtown.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-71359 Alon Levy Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:56:53 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-71359 NYC cops are already fleeing to Westchester and Long Island, where officer salaries are much higher. Even Rochester is recruiting cops away from NYPD; it pays about the same, but the cost of living is lower. But sure, let's scare away all the cops. Next: let's halve the salaries of teachers, EMTs, and nurses and cut their benefits. Only CEOs and people in finance deserve high wages. NYC cops are already fleeing to Westchester and Long Island, where officer salaries are much higher. Even Rochester is recruiting cops away from NYPD; it pays about the same, but the cost of living is lower.

But sure, let’s scare away all the cops. Next: let’s halve the salaries of teachers, EMTs, and nurses and cut their benefits. Only CEOs and people in finance deserve high wages.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/02/balancing-the-budget-fare-hikes-vs-service-cuts/#comment-71355 Alon Levy Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:02:01 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4984#comment-71355 Not only would the MTA need to purchase more ticket-vending machines, but also it would be difficult to implement swipe-free access for people with unlimited cards. If having an unlimited monthly meant you could get on a bus without swiping, it would substantially cut dwell times, improving bus performance. It would also make it difficult to introduce tap card technology, which in other cities comes with a substantial discount in order to prod people into switching. Finally, it would increase the number of ticket vending transactions, increasing fare collection costs. Not only would the MTA need to purchase more ticket-vending machines, but also it would be difficult to implement swipe-free access for people with unlimited cards. If having an unlimited monthly meant you could get on a bus without swiping, it would substantially cut dwell times, improving bus performance. It would also make it difficult to introduce tap card technology, which in other cities comes with a substantial discount in order to prod people into switching. Finally, it would increase the number of ticket vending transactions, increasing fare collection costs.

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