MTA Approves Fare Hikes, Again

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board had approved a series of fare hikes for the third time in as many years; and whether you train, or bus, your wallet will be feeling the effects as of Jan. 1.

The changes are expected to yield a 7.5 percent increase in fare revenue to bridge an estimated $900 million funding shortfall in the MTA. Despite vocal objections at a number of public forums convened regarding the increases, the board approved their proposed plan Thursday morning.

The effects of the fare increases at the Chappaqua and Mount Kisco stations - which both part of the Harlem Line - will be felt differently. On the MTA fare table, Chappaqua is part of Zone 5, while Mount Kisco is in Zone 6. Stations further away from Grand Central Terminal in New York City have higher fares, based on which zone they are in.

Assuming trips to/from Grand Central, for Chappaqua and other Zone 5 stations, monthly passes will go from $243 to $266, weekly passes from $77.75 to $85, and one-way peak-hour tickets from $11.25 to $12.

For Mount Kisco and other Zone 6 stations, monthlies will go from $287 to $315, weeklies from $91.75 to $100.75, and one-way peak tickets from $13.25 to $14.25.

Overall increases for all fares on the East of Hudson lines are rising between 6.7 percent and 11.1 percent. (Full fare schedule changes are attached).

Once you get into the city, commuters will be hit again with fare increases on MetroCards and passes. The unlimited ride 30-day pass and calendar-month pass, currently at $89, is being increased to $104. The MTA's unlimited seven-day pass, currently $27, is moving up to $29 .

A $1 charge on new MetroCards is also going into effect, which the MTA hopes will encourage the reuse of the cards and reduce the annual cost of $13 million to print them. Single-ride tickets will go up to $2.50 on subways and buses, unless you obtain a discount by putting more money on your card. The MTA has also discontinued the one-day and 14-day passes. At a hearing in White Plains, authorities said those cards were underutilized and linked with scams to illegally sell card swipes.

The new fares will take effect on, or near, Jan. 1, 2011. Another fare hike is already scheduled for 2013.

News of the fare increase occurred on the same day the Westchester County Executive, Robert Astorino, said he had drafted legislation that would allow the county to join in a lawsuit opposing the MTA's controversial payroll mobility tax.

Passed by the State Legislature last year, the mobility tax requires all employers in New York City, as well as Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Nassau and Suffolk counties, to pay 34 cents for every $100 spent in payroll to the MTA. While it is expected to raise over $103 million a year, local taxpayers are stuck paying for it because it is being charged to the county, towns, villages, school districts and libraries

The first county to file suit against the tax was Nassau County in July 201o. The county executive, Ed Mangano, called the tax illegal and unconstitutional. However, the MTA said that Nassau county had failed to fund their transportation programs for years. 

Nassau's move has been supported by other counties. Rockland has filed its own lawsuit over the tax. For Westchester County to join Nassau's lawsuit, the legislation must be passed by a majority of the County Board of Legislators' 17 members.