Nearly 700 furious straphangers descended on an MTA hearing last night to blast its plan to raise bus and subway fares and slash service.
“Many of us will become recluses and will not be able to keep our lives active,” said Leona Adams, 86, who lives in Chelsea and claims she will not be able to afford a bus ride.
Adams was joined by a chorus of protesters who packed a ballroom in the New York Hilton to sound off at a public hearing by the agency’s board on its much-maligned proposals – one of which includes raising the base bus and subway fare to $3.
More than 100 people spoke at the seven-and-a-half-hour meeting.
Many seated in the first few rows held up signs that read, “What’s Fare?” and “Governor Paterson Rescue the Riders,” and booed the board members when they were introduced at the start of the hearing.
“The MTA has proposed a doomsday scenario of fare increases and service cuts that would hurt every New Yorker,” Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer told stone-faced board members.
The MTA has released two fare-hike scenarios, calling on riders to comment on their choice of the two evils, which are designed to close a $1.2 billion budget gap. The agency said its deficit climbs to $2.4 billion in 2010.
Under the first plan, the base fare would jump from $2 to $2.50. A weekly unlimited MetroCard would go up $6, to $31, and a monthly pass would increase $12, to $103.
Under the second scenario, a single ride would go up to $3. Weeklies would cost $31 and monthlies $99.
Single express-bus fares would skyrocket from $5 to $6.25 under one plan and to $6 under the second scenario.
Tolls on the agency’s major crossings would go from $5 to $6.50 on cash lanes. The one-way toll on the Verrazano Bridge would jump $3 to $13.
The proposed hikes are unacceptable to Thomas Brice, 24, of Brooklyn, who said he works two jobs and attends John Jay College.
“I can’t afford to pay even a quarter more to pay to get to school or work,” he insisted.
The cash-strapped agency also has said that increases would come with drastic service cuts, including elimination of the W and Z lines as well as shortening the G and M lines.
Several bus lines also are on the chopping block, including the M8, which Dlphine Blue, 40 rides.
“I had problems with my foot for over a year and the M8 was my lifeline.,” she said. “I can’t afford to take cabs. If you take my bus I don’t know what I’ll do.” Last night’s hearing was the first of eight the MTA will hold across the region.
The next is 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sheraton La Guardia East Hotel in Flushing, Queens.
Additional reporting by Erik Shilling
Vracha Zucker
Age: 21
Occupation: Private-school teacher
Commute: B36 and B44 buses
Zucker stopped buying an unlimited monthly MetroCard when the fare increased last March, and switched to pay-per-ride.
“I already spend about 15 percent of my salary on transportation,” she said.
“When these fares go up, it’ll be more like 20 percent.”
Impact: Could lose 8% bonus on pay-per-ride MetroCard.
Orbit Clanton
Age: 46
Occupation: Advocate for the disabled
Clanton spends hours every day going to different neighborhoods helping people find public services.
“I’ve used every line we’ve got,” he said. “If you decrease
the overall performance, you’re going to have a lot of people, like myself, who can’t find the waiting, the heat or the cold bearable.”
Impact: Could wait 10 minutes longer for “letter
lines” at night, and face more overcrowding.
Commute: Varies