NY's MTA To Increase Fares, Cut Service

Some pretty dramatic developments with New York's Metro Transit Authority, which today voted for major fare increases as well as service cutbacks, according to the New York Times.

"The fare hikes on the subway and buses, including an increase in the base subway and bus fare to $2.50, from $2, will take effect on May 31.

Commuter rail fares will increase on June 1. Tolls on the authority’s bridges and tunnels will also go up, with the increase taking effect in mid-July.

The service cuts are far reaching. They include the elimination of 35 bus routes and two subway lines, the W and Z. Off-peak and weekend subway, bus and commuter rail service will also be cut back. The city comptroller’s office Web site allows you to search for the cuts by zip code."

Are these the kinds of tough choices WMATA needs to make, albeit on a smaller scale, yet can't? Can WMATA continue to look at the fringes to bridge its budget gap? Will the stimulus money keep WMATA from having to make any kind of choice?

Another Scare Tactic?

An article in the Examiner caught our eye this morning. The title is "Metro officials warn of more fires, delays, trash as budget is trimmed," and cites "Metro" as saying "railcars and tracks would be cleaned less often leading to messier trains and more track fires caused from discarded newspapers."

This certainly sounds scary, and according to the story, "loose papers and debris helped spur a series of track fires in 2007 that waylaid riders for hours."

We're very wary of this claim, especially since there's no name attached. Our guess about what all this hoopla is? Metro is trying to scare you and is laying the groundwork to dip into the stimulus money to close the gap because no one on that board wants to make any tough choices regarding service cuts.

If newspapers were really that much of a danger, could Metro be considered negligent letting a "known" danger go unchecked? If newspapers are such a potential hazard, why does Metro let them be handed out for free knowing a certain percentage of people will just dump theirs?

And about the filth, by almost anyone's account, the one problem Metro really doesn't have is that it's dirty. Just check our very scientific poll over to the right. Only two percent say filth is a major problem with the system. We'd gladly take more filth if it meant better function.

We doubt you'll see more fires, but Metro's list of shovel ready improvements is going to take a $29 million hit is our bet.

Other news of note:
McGruff incident must've caused this.

"Feisty" Board Meeting Ends With Nothing Resolved

When you read stories like this, you almost start to feel sorry for WMATA. Almost.

Apparently today's board meeting turned "intense" and "feisty," reports WTOP. Oohhh! Juicy.

The crux: disagreement on how to close the $29 million budget gap. Virginia appears to want service cuts and/or fare increases, while DC wants to use stimulus money.

The solution: wait two more weeks. Isn't that sort of like the reboot trick with a computer?

Gotta love it. Prepare for a further degraded system.

Metro is now essentially off-track when it comes to getting any potential service changes in place by the start of the next fiscal year.

Agency officials admit they will have to speed up the public hearing process, or implement any potential service changes later than first anticipated. That, in turn, could mean bigger changes are required.

WaPo's take

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

It was just a few weeks ago when you could practically feel the glee as Metro announced they'd be receiving some $230 in stimulus money. Grandiose plans were outlined that were shovel ready, would create jobs and improve Metro. Everyone was thrilled.

But there was always that pesky budget gap that was first reported to be $154 million that Metro was able to shrink to $29 million "by raising revenue projections, cutting expenses and slashing more than 300 jobs."

We've already seen the kind of projections Metro is capable of.


Now this: "Metro’s board chairman says the transit agency is poised to scrap its plans for cutting transit service and instead use federal stimulus money to close what remains of a budget shortfall."

Benjamin [Peter Benjamin, who represents Maryland] added, though, that using a portion of the transit agency’s approximately $200 million share of federal stimulus funds to plug the hole would mean an even bigger challenge in coming years. The stimulus money is a one-time addition to the coffers, but Metro’s costs aren’t expected to drop. “The issue is: What is the second act?” Benjamin said.

He said the agency would likely need higher fare increases, bigger taxpayer subsidies or service cuts in the future.

Why make tough choices--like marginal service cuts-- now when you can pass them on to someone else down the line who'll have to really wield the chainsaw to your service? We don't think this bodes well for Metro's future.

A softer take from GGW