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Metropass holders wouldn't take this from the TTC

SixPoints

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M.T.A. Approves Transit Fare Increases
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM



The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 12 to 2 this morning to approve a package of fare increases for its subways, buses and commuter railroads, the third time in three years that New Yorkers face a stiff rise in the cost of getting around.

The unlimited 7-day and 30-day MetroCards for the city’s subway and bus system will remain unlimited, as the board rejected a proposal to cap the number of rides they are valid for. But the price of the passes will jump significantly. On Dec. 30, when the increases take effect, a 30-day unlimited card will cost $104, up from $89, a 17 percent increase, while an unlimited weekly pass will cost $29, up from $27. Single rides will rise 25 cents to $2.50.

The pricing regime places the biggest burden of the increases on the system’s most frequent riders, the third of straphangers who use 30-day passes. Transit officials said this action was fair, because that group also tends to be more affluent than other riders, according to the authority’s survey data.

But some board member at Thursday’s meeting objected. “This fare plan hits our best customers with the heftiest fare hike,†Andrew Albert, a nonvoting board member and chairman of the New York City Transit Riders Council, said shortly before the vote. “We should be rewarding our best customers.â€

On the authority’s railroads, tickets on the Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, depending on distance, will rise 7 to 14 percent. And a $1 surcharge will be levied on riders who buy a new MetroCard rather than adding money to an older one.

The board members who voted against the increases were Norman I. Seabrook, president of the city correction officers’ union and a 2006 appointee of Gov. George E. Pataki; and Patrick J. Foye, a deputy county executive in Nassau County appointed at the recommendation of the county executive, Edward P. Mangano, in May.

Each said the increases could not be justified in the wake of the recent service cuts.

Over all, the fare increases are intended to generate 7.5 percent more revenue for the troubled transportation authority, which significantly cut transit services this year to close a yawning budget cap, brought on by depressed tax revenue and a cut in state financing. The board previously agreed to a 7.5 percent fare increase last year.

Mr. Albert echoed other remarks on Thursday when he expressed dismay that the authority was raising fares after instituting a severe set of service cuts over the summer. “Riders are being asked to pick up an inordinate amount of the slack,†Mr. Albert said. “This one comes on the heels of the worst service decreases in years. Higher fares and service cuts are a lose-lose for riders.â€

But the authority’s bleak financial pressures all but ensured that the higher fares would go through. “We are not in a position to be able to avoid this increase,†said Jay H. Walder, the authority’s chairman, as the board prepared to vote.

If the increases are approved, the price of a monthly MetroCard will have risen 65 percent in 12 years, far outpacing inflation. The 30-day pass cost $63 a month when it was introduced in 1998.

A toll increase on the authority’s nine tunnels and bridges was also proposed, but the board will not vote on that plan until Oct. 27. Drivers who pay cash potentially face an increase of 30 percent or higher, while E-ZPass drivers may not pay any increase at all, under a proposal gaining momentum on the board.

Source: nytimes.com
 
Not only are our fares a lot higher, Metropass is $121CAD vs $104USD ($110 CAD), but we have 2 measly subway lines + 2 stubs, while NYC has over 10 lines with fantastic coverage of the inner city. They're also building a brand new line, while we are still debating endlessly about our DRL.
 
Aren't TTC fares higher than that?

I realize fares are much higher here for less service. I thought it was not appropriate to pass the heaviest fare increases on to your most loyal customers. If you look at the % increases across the spectrum (cash, weekly pass, monthly pass), it's all over the place with the largest increase by far going to the monthly pass holders.

Fares are much lower in NYC but I bet an MTA worker makes less $ than a TTC employee.
 
I realize fares are much higher here for less service. .

The level of service wouldn't justify higher fares, otherwise they would justify higher wages as well. Indeed, the TTC union is guaranteed higher wages than 905 transit workers, because of the mistaken belief that the level of service actually makes a difference...

I thought it was not appropriate to pass the heaviest fare increases on to your most loyal customers. If you look at the % increases across the spectrum (cash, weekly pass, monthly pass), it's all over the place with the largest increase by far going to the monthly pass holders.

I agree, that's how the last TTC fare hike was initally proposed to be as well. It is a backwards policy.

Fares are much lower in NYC but I bet an MTA worker makes less $ than a TTC employee.

Hourly wage for bus drivers in both system is around $26. The MTA New York City has 8000 workers that make over $100,000 annually, the TTC only has 588. Why rely on assumptions?
 
Almost the entire difference is caused by the subsidy rate. Taxpayers in Toronto pay a 60 cent subsidy for each transit ride. Those lefties down in New York offer a $1.70 subsidy per rider.
 
The MTA gives you a 15% bonus when you put at least $8 on a MetroCard. So essentially a "10 pack of tokens" costs about $21.75, so rounded each ride costs $2.18. A 30 day pass will pay for itself after 48 rides, so assuming there are 23 work days in a 30 day period (using March 2010 as reference, excluding holidays) you have to use it both ways every work day, and at least 2 extra round trip or 4 stopovers over 2 hours. In comparison, 10 TTC tokens cost $25 and a Metropass costs $121. So a Metropass pays for itself after 49 rides. So with 23 work days, you need to use it everyday plus 3 extra round trips or 6 stopovers.

EDIT: Reduced fare only for seniors, public school students, and persons with disabilities
 
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