How did we miss this story for so many weeks? According to a report by Jeremy Olshan in The Post, the MTA’s fare hike leaves subway riders footing a higher percentage increase than drivers using the MTA Bridge and Tunnel tolls. In the era of the congestion fee and an increased call for traffic calming in New York, these findings are dismaying to say the least.
Furthermore, the MTA is partially reiterating its claim that Metrocard vending machines are to blame. Since these machines can support only fare increases in multiples of $0.25, the MTA is limited in its ability to raise the fares across the board. While the city eagerly awaits the outcome of the congestion fee battle, this transgression will not stand, man.
Olshan elaborates:
Despite all the talk about congestion pricing and discouraging driving in favor of mass transit, motorists get off equally – and in many cases easier – under the MTA’s proposed fare hikes. The cash toll for bridges and tunnels would rise 11.1 percent, from $4.50 to $5, under the proposal, compared to the 12.5 percent subway hike from $2 to $2.25.
Of course, only 25 percent of drivers and 15 percent of bus and subway riders pay the base fare. Using EZ-Pass, toll payers would shell out 6.25 percent more as the rate rises from $4 to $4.25, and a five-ride MetroCard would increase the price per ride by 13 to 20 percent.
In addition to breaking what could become an important subplot in the fare hike debate — especially once those public hearings begins — Olshan tracked down some choice quotes for his piece as well.
Paul Steely White, head of Transportation Alternatives: “We should be doing more to encourage people to take mass transit instead of driving. They need to not be ashamed to raise those tolls. They should sock it to motorists and give transit riders a break, because it’s the drivers who are contributing to pollution and global warming.”
Andrew Albert, MTA board member: “There’s no question we should be encouraging transit usage first. I don’t know why you would favor motorists. If anything, they should be hit harder.”
Jeremy Soffin, MTA spokesman: “The goal is to treat everyone equally and have the increase be as close as possible to 6.5 percent. It’s easier to accomplish that with tolls and EZ-Pass and on the commuter rails. The subway fare is more complicated.”
Yikes. This is not a good situation for anyone. The MTA comes out looking bad, and subway riders are getting screwed while drivers, the scourge of many New Yorkers, are getting off easy.
Right now, the easy solution should be the one the MTA is looking into: Raise the tolls on the roads the extent such that they don’t need to shaft subway riders. Drivers should be the ones footing the bill for public transportation considering that many people drive in this city when they don’t have to. A fare hike like that one would be a preemptive congestion fee.
So how can we get this message to the MTA? Go to the public hearings and demand accountability. Find out why drivers are getting off with a lower percentage increase while subway riders are getting stuck with a higher bill. Nothing about this fare hike is set in stone, and if enough people band together, the proposals can change. It worked with the F express; maybe it can work with the fare hike too.
2 comments
Maybe the former token/Metrocard sellers in the booths can actually go back to doing their jobs and sell Metrocards. It could be a cash-only business while the Metrocard machines could be credit card only, resulting in a lower fare hike.
“considering that many people drive in this city when they don’t have to” — Most MTA toll crossings don’t go to Manhattan, so people using them do have to drive, since public transportation is Manhattan-oriented. If I’m going from Nassau County to Westchester, or Queens to New Jersey, I’m not going to take the train.