The New York Transportation Authority plans to increase the cost of the subway ticket for next year.
The new year does not seem to bring very good forecasts for New York City, which is facing one of its worst crises. With a budget deficit not seen before, the MTA will be forced to increase the cost of the ticket on the subway.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority is considering raising the cost of tickets on the subway to $ 3, as well as increasing tolls on bridges and tunnels.
In the midst of the pandemic, which still infects thousands of people a day, the MTA, is trying to find a way to recover the income it lost during the months of March and June, when the city was completely closed by covid-19.
Among the measures that have been studied among MTA executives, is an increase in subway tickets, as well as the dismissal of at least 9,000 employees.
Although it has not yet been enacted, the MTA is looking for a way to survive after experiencing one of its worst moments since its founding.
The president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that a series of hearings will be held to determine what the new adjustments will be that will come into effect early next year.
“The MTA will begin the standard review process during a series of virtual public hearings for toll and rate adjustments, although we recognize that this year is anything but standard,” MTA President Patrick Foye said in a statement, according to review Telemundo47.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, we are committed to reviewing a wide variety of proposals and will work to minimize the impact on our customers.”
According to what the MTA authorities have reported, several important points of the transportation agency will be discussed in the coming weeks:
- Increase the cost of the subway to $ 3.
- Eliminate unlimited MetroCard cards for one month and one week.
- Increase the cost of tolls in tunnels and bridges.
- Cut some services.
- Reduce the number of employees.
One of the main goals that the MTA has proposed is to raise close to 153 million dollars by next 2021. This in order to maintain the service in the best possible way.
Some of the new MTA proposals, which include the increase from $ 2.75 to $ 3 for the subway fare, is to re-implement the 7% bonuses on the cards MetroCardas well as the elimination of unlimited cards.
On the other hand, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority detailed that if the subway ticket does not go up, it will increase the weekly MetroCard, from $ 33 to $ 36, while the monthly would go to 139 dollars.
The MTA needs the help of Congress to stay
New York’s top transportation agency faces a budget deficit of at least $ 12 billion.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has spoken about the crisis the MTA is going through, petitioning Congress for a financial aid package that can alleviate the situation experienced by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The MTA authorities have urgently requested support from the government in order to survive and not harm New Yorkers with the increase in tickets.
“The MTA simply cannot get out of this situation without devastating passengers and the region, and the economy by extension. We need help and we need it now ”, said Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee, the MTA’s internal advocacy group.
They are preparing for the worst “As we are required to enact a balanced budget and the feds have yet to act on another COVID-19 aid package that would help mass transit, we are moving forward hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.”added MTA spokesman Ken Lovett.
You can also read: MTA needs the help of Congress to survive
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