Officials Criticize Planned 4% Metro-North Fare Hike

Written by Barbara Heins

In the wake of Metro-North Railroad’s release of a financial report that shows significant savings, contractual obligations and the imposition of new rail safety regulations, make it likely that a 4 percent fare hike for New Haven Line commuters will be imposed in 2015.

That revelation this week has prompted criticism from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Gov. Dannel Malloy who demanded that Metro North improve its budget management.

Metro North recently released a financial report and budget overview in which the MTA claims it is saving money in several areas, but will need to increase rates by 4 percent in 2015 and another 4 percent in 2017.

Connecticut pays Metro North $71 million a year to operate the train line to New York City.

In a letter to MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast, Malloy wrote, “In the financial plan released last week, the MTA touts significant expense savings, but calls for fare increases in 2015 and 2017 that could impact the New Haven Line. Those points don’t seem to add up. I would like a full accounting of Connecticut’s share of the proposed savings that were reported in the budget plan.”

Malloy also wrote, “Our approved budget is predicated on no new fare increase in the State of Connecticut. It should go without saying that Connecticut expects Metro-North to control expenses and to live within the adopted budget for 2015.”

In a statement, Blumenthal said, “I join Governor Malloy in strongly urging that there be no new fare increase, which would be both anti-consumer and anti-commuter – and harmful to economic growth and ultimately the railroad itself.” The Greenwich Democrat added, “For Connecticut commuters to bear the brunt of subsidizing and providing service for out-of-state railroad and transit users on the busiest transportation corridor in the United States is profoundly unjust and unwarranted.”