MTA Fair Hike... NYC Style

Our "every other year" Metropolitan Transportation Authority fair hike was scaled back today. But instead of fake promises of improved service, cleaner and newer trains and a moon or two, they tell us that our rate increase comes with less service, the elimination of some bus and subway routes, and they're going to cut jobs. Hmmmm, sounds like most every other fare hike that I can remember, except for the 'elimination of jobs' part. Nothing was mentioned about executive wages being cut or the replacement of executives or members of the MTA Board.

All new subway fair hikes will go into effect June 28th, 2009.

Like fare hikes of the past, they will soon have billions of excess money that they will have no idea what to do with,, but rest assured in 2011, they will have lost it all and be back asking for more. And improvements? I honestly have not seen any improvements in the 16 years I've lived here in NYC and they have raised the rates almost every two years. I think it is one of the most mismanaged businesses around. Make me MTA king and the rides will be set at one dollar (yes) and the trains will be cut in half and run twice as often.

How will this particular rate effect me? Well, since I am now living in Manhattan, I've been walking all I can for the past several months. Great exercise and I get to see the city street for street every time I go out. For long distances, I will take the Subway in one direction and if I have time, I'll take the bus back in the other direction, thus costing only one fare. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone.