Since 2008, the MTA had plans in the works to add tolls to the Tompkinsville stop along the Staten Island Rail Road. They move, they said, would generate $700,000 annually and cut into the SIR’s $3.4 million operating loss. That fare collection started in January, and it has so far been a guarded success.
In documents released this weekend, New York City Transit reported that ridership at Tompkinsville had totalled 204,000 paying customers between January 20 and the end of October with a low fare evasion rate of just 0.59 percent. Overall, SIR revenue is up only 6.1 percent over the same period last year, and the MTA attributes this lower-than-expected total to the weak economy and some higher labor expenses. The authority is still considering a plan to institute fares along the entire length of the SIR.
8 comments
Wonder how many of the 204,000 riders had a pay-per-ride MetroCard and actually added revenue to the railway? Like the rest of NYC, I’d imagine most SIR riders have Unlimited MetroCards, so the railway really wasn’t “losing” the fares, just not “capturing” them. Most folks who get off at Tompkinsville end up transfering to the many bus routes at Victory Blvd/Bay St, so the MTA captures the fare somewhere along the way, if not on the SIR proper. Same with the turnsiles at the Ferry Terminal in St. George, since there are free transfers to the IRT/BMT at South Ferry.
It was previously thought that many people with pay-per-ride cards and downtown destinations got off at Tompkinsville and walked to the ferry to avoid paying any fare. If this were the case, the increased revenue from the change at Tompkinsville would show up as more people swiping out at St George, not in the number of people still using the Tompkinsville station.
If you want to take SIR from St George to Tompkinsville, do you now have to pay twice?
That’s a good question. I don’t have the numbers to see if there’s a corresponding increase in entries at St. George. I can’t imagine though that many people are taking SIR from St. George to Tompkinsville.
The MetroCard Automated Fare Collection (AFC) software has been modified so that customers boarding and paying at Tompkinsville can ride the one stop to St. George and swipe out, but they will still have their free transfer to use on a subway or bus when they reach Manhattan.
http://www.mta.info/mta/news/r.....0118-NYCT7
I have to guess that means they won’t be charged 2x.
Not sure, but if one takes the train from St. George to Tompkinsville, they deserve to pay twice, the lazy bums! It’s only about 1/4 mile between stations. Riders can also take any bus going down Bay St to get to Tompkinsville.
As for “free” rides for those heading downtown, I’m thinking that’s a very small number of SIR riders. If those who live in Great Kills or New Dorp and work in the financial district, I don’t think evading a $2.25 fare is the main thing on their minds. The MTA paid $7 million to put in turnstiles and a corrugated metal “station” at Tompkinsville so they could “collect” $459,000 (assuming ALL 204,000 riders had a pay-per-ride card AND got off at Tompkinsville
Yeah it was a waste of money, most people use Tompkinsville to transfer to the buses. Even if they were to charge for the whole system it really wouldn’t matter because most of the riders pay at St. George anyway or have an unlimited. The cost really doesn’t justify the return.
Just like in the debate about the distance between subway stations, it’s not necessarily a matter of laziness.
What about the elderly, the handicapped, or on bad-weather days, everybody?
How about taking the S46, S48, S61, S62, S78, S91 or S92 bus from St. George to Tompkinsville. You don’t need to take the SIR.