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As MTA Seeks Rate Hike, Report Shows More Opt For Ridesharing Services

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — As the MTA announces plans to increase fares twice over the next three years, a new report finds more customers are opting for rideshare services, which is also causing increased congestion. MTA officials announced Wednesday that they’ll be raising fares by 4 percent next year and another 4 percent in 2021. Officials say the hikes are necessary to stave off budget deficits and decreased ridership. “As we stated in November and as we stated in February, the MTA requires new sources of sustainable revenue for operations and for capital,” said Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran. “Again, those are forecasted. They’re still subject to our need, they’re subject to public hearings and they’re subject to board action.” Just the thought of another fare hike has MTA riders upset. “I think it’s absurd,” one rider said. “I don’t think we’re seeing an improvement in service.” “The fares increase, but service stays the same or gets worse,” said another. Part of the reason for the increase in lower ridership appears to be competition from rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, CBS2’s Janelle Burrell reported. According to transportation consultant Bruce Schaller’s study The New Automobility , the effects of ridershares is not only impacting the use of public transit, but it’s also causing more congestion. The report shows that about 60 percent of people who use the services in large cities would have used public transportation or walked, biked or not made that trip if rideshare services weren’t available. MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said the transit system is experiencing a nationwide trend of fewer riders. He said it’s due to a combination of service, for-hire vehicles and fare evasion. (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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As MTA Seeks Rate Hike, Report Shows More Opt For Ridesharing Services

July 26, 2018 0 comment

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Straphangers Irate Over MTA’s Plan To Hike Fares Twice Over Next 3 Years

written by NevaSoundy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — To the displeasure of straphangers across all five boroughs, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday announced plans to increase fares twice over the next three years. Riders who’ve had it with bad service say they’re not happy about the Wednesday bombshell. “As we stated in November and February, the MTA requires new revenue for operations and for capital,” MTA Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran said. Translation? Despite the delays, the breakdowns, and the frustrations, fares are going up for subways, commuter lines, and buses. Riders across the board weren’t happy about it. “I think it’s absurd,” one straphanger told CBS2. “It’s not like we’re seeing an improvement in service.” “As a student I think it’s really challenging,” one woman said. The MTA announced it will raise fares by four percent in both 2019 and 2021. As for specific details, those may take a while. “Those are forecasted, they’re still subjected to our needs,” Foran said. “They’re subject to our public hearings and subject to board action. We’ve increased saving targets, we just have to cut more cost.” But what about the delays, or the constantly crammed subway cars, and the so-called “incidents” that could make you hours late for work? The MTA says they’re working on it. “The figure I plugged in is not particularly scientific at the moment,” Transit Authority President Andy Byford said. “I just said at the moment we’re around 70,000 delay incidents a month and that’s far too high.” In response, Byford says he’s proposed a target of 10,000 “incidents” by the end of 2018. The one thing the MTA has been consistent with all along is fare hikes. The newest round of raises will bring the total number to seven since 2009, part of the plan to raise fares every two years as part of a financial rescue. Riders say they’re just not buying it. “The fares increase, but the service just stays the same or gets worse,” one man said. MTA Chair Joe Lhota says the state of emergency remains in place, along with the subway action plan.

July 26, 2018 0 comment