MTA Fare Hike Foes Pledge More State Funds MTA

New York Daily News | October 17, 2007

By Pete Donohue
Daily News staff writer

At least some people think the proposed MTA fare and toll hikes can be derailed.A city-suburban coalition that includes 22 Democrats in the Assembly Wednesday launched a "Stop the Fare Hike Campaign," pledging to get more state funds for the MTA."We have to be persuasive with our colleagues, the Senate, with the governor, and get the money down here to save the fare," Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) said at a press conference on the steps of City Hall.City and local governments also will have to shift priorities and provide more mass transit money, campaign leaders said.The coalition, which includes the Straphangers Campaign and Transportation Alternatives, wants the fare hike delayed until April 15 so that the funding issue can be taken up in Albany during budget negotiations.The MTA board is scheduled to vote on a 2008 budget in December. If approved, bus and subway hikes would go into effect in late February, followed by higher commuter train fares and tolls at MTA bridges and tunnels.Transit officials say the hikes will generate $260 million next year.The MTA showed no interest in delaying the hikes yesterday. In a statement, the agency warned "a more drastic increase and unacceptable service cuts" would be needed in 2009 without the hikes or an equivalent level of state support.

Submitted by admin on December 18, 2007 - 16:02. categories [ ]