Spitzer, opposing fare hike, promises MTA money

Gov. Spitzer doesn’t want more money dropped into the MTA’s turnstiles. (Courtesy of flickr user jlin45d)

The political grandstanding on the possibility of an MTA fare hike has begun. Look out.

Just yesterday, MTA CEO Elliot “Lee” Sander announced that the MTA may have to look at the possibility of a fare hike in 2008. Sander, vague on the possibility of a fare hike, knows the vultures will descend if he starts talking in definites. Chuck Bennett on amNY’s Tracker Blog said as much yesterday.

Other politicos in New York started taking positions on the fare hike pretty quickly. Our new governor Eliot Spitzer jumped into the fray as he announced his stringent opposition to a fare hike. In fact, Spitzer has promised to do “everything possible” to avoid a fare hike. Strong words from the man in charge. Metro New York reported:

Yesterday Spitzer said higher fares might be avoided by the state contributing more to the MTA. “We will increase state investment in transportation — both capital and operating sides of the budget — because that is the only way to maintain our transportation,” Spitzer said.

With this promise, the ball is squarely in Spitzer’s court. He’s right to note that the state can stave off a fare hike. If Spitzer can get the legislature to guarantee the City-based subway enough money and then some to cover the necessary costs, we won’t face a fare hike. But upstate representatives are always loathe to fund New York City-centric projects.

This will be one political dance worth watching as the City’s own Spitzer may have to battle a powerful upstate coalition of representatives opposed to giving more money to the MTA.