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On July 13, New Yorkers gathered outside the headquarters of the Transportation Administration (MTA), to express their protest against the increase in fares on the city’s public transport, writes AMNY.
In May, the MTA proposed raising New York City subway and bus fares from $2.75 to $2.90, the first base fare increase since 2015. A weekly pass will rise in price from $33 to $34; monthly – from $127 to $132; and the express bus fare will increase from $6.75 to $7.
The MTA wants to introduce an increase for Labor Day (September 4). But with the prices of food, housing and virtually everything on the rise, passengers say they can’t afford to pay more fares.
Vulnerable categories of MTA passengers
“Something that may seem like just a couple of cents to you guys is actually a life or death situation for many others,” said Sergio Cruz, a Bronx resident who attends City College and is eligible for the benefits program. Fair Fares low-income travel cards, despite working three different jobs.
Jackson Malkus, an instructor at City College, cited a 2021 Center for an Urban Future (CUF) report that found the need to buy a MetroCard to be the biggest hurdle preventing CUNY students from completing their education.
On the subject: MTA can send you SMS if your train or bus is delayed: how to subscribe to the service
“I have heard from many students that they cannot afford to use transport to get to the university,” Malkus said at the hearing. “Due to inflation, students are already dealing with crazy costs for food, rent and other living expenses on top of what they pay for their education.”
A number of other City College students also told the transportation agency that the proposed 15-cent fare increase would hit their budgets and force them to choose between graduating and paying rent.
“It’s not just about 15 cents. It’s about the student’s future. The future of a student is the future of the state and the future of the country,” said Sumaya Tasneem, a student from Bangladesh. “Students dropping out of college because of higher fares or tuition fees shouldn’t even be a topic of conversation.”
City budget and tariff increase
The toll increase is authorized by the state budget. The MTA initially forecast a 5.5% overall increase in tolls and tolls as part of a plan to cover a growing budget deficit. In the final budget agreement, the level of increase was reduced to 4%.
On the subject: OMNY card machines will be at all New York subway stations by the end of the year: what fate awaits MetroCard
The MTA is also planning another 4% increase in 2025, bringing NYC transit fares over $3 for the first time. The agency says regular tariff increases are preferable to long periods without them, followed by sharp increases such as those seen in 1981 and 2003.
“The theory is that more frequent and smaller fare adjustments prevent radical fare increases, as we saw in 2003,” said John McCarthy, MTA’s head of external affairs.
Fair Fares Program
The MTA also maintains Fair Fares, the city’s half-price travel pass program for low-income residents. The City Council has proposed expanding eligibility to include those earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level (currently capped at 100%) to the Fair Fares program. In dollar terms, this doubles the annual income threshold from $14,580 to $29,160 for individuals and from $30,000 to $60,000 for families of four.
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In New York, they want to raise subway fares: citizens are against
On July 13, New Yorkers gathered outside the headquarters of the Transportation Administration (MTA), to express their protest against the increase in fares on the city’s public transport, writes AMNY.
In May, the MTA proposed raising New York City subway and bus fares from $2.75 to $2.90, the first base fare increase since 2015. A weekly pass will rise in price from $33 to $34; monthly – from $127 to $132; and the express bus fare will increase from $6.75 to $7.
The MTA wants to introduce an increase for Labor Day (September 4). But with the prices of food, housing and virtually everything on the rise, passengers say they can’t afford to pay more fares.
Vulnerable categories of MTA passengers
“Something that may seem like just a couple of cents to you guys is actually a life or death situation for many others,” said Sergio Cruz, a Bronx resident who attends City College and is eligible for the benefits program. Fair Fares low-income travel cards, despite working three different jobs.
Jackson Malkus, an instructor at City College, cited a 2021 Center for an Urban Future (CUF) report that found the need to buy a MetroCard to be the biggest hurdle preventing CUNY students from completing their education.
On the subject: MTA can send you SMS if your train or bus is delayed: how to subscribe to the service
“I have heard from many students that they cannot afford to use transport to get to the university,” Malkus said at the hearing. “Due to inflation, students are already dealing with crazy costs for food, rent and other living expenses on top of what they pay for their education.”
A number of other City College students also told the transportation agency that the proposed 15-cent fare increase would hit their budgets and force them to choose between graduating and paying rent.
“It’s not just about 15 cents. It’s about the student’s future. The future of a student is the future of the state and the future of the country,” said Sumaya Tasneem, a student from Bangladesh. “Students dropping out of college because of higher fares or tuition fees shouldn’t even be a topic of conversation.”
City budget and tariff increase
The toll increase is authorized by the state budget. The MTA initially forecast a 5.5% overall increase in tolls and tolls as part of a plan to cover a growing budget deficit. In the final budget agreement, the level of increase was reduced to 4%.
On the subject: OMNY card machines will be at all New York subway stations by the end of the year: what fate awaits MetroCard
The MTA is also planning another 4% increase in 2025, bringing NYC transit fares over $3 for the first time. The agency says regular tariff increases are preferable to long periods without them, followed by sharp increases such as those seen in 1981 and 2003.
“The theory is that more frequent and smaller fare adjustments prevent radical fare increases, as we saw in 2003,” said John McCarthy, MTA’s head of external affairs.
Fair Fares Program
The MTA also maintains Fair Fares, the city’s half-price travel pass program for low-income residents. The City Council has proposed expanding eligibility to include those earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level (currently capped at 100%) to the Fair Fares program. In dollar terms, this doubles the annual income threshold from $14,580 to $29,160 for individuals and from $30,000 to $60,000 for families of four.
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