Congestion pricing rollout, possible fare hike on the table for final MTA board meeting of the year
NEW YORK -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is holding its final board meeting of the year Wednesday, just weeks before congestion pricing takes effect.
CBS News New York has learned in addition to congestion pricing, the board could also be discussing a possible fare hike.
Fares increased 15 cents over the summer to $2.90, but a source familiar with discussions tells our transit reporter Elijah Westbrook there could be talk of another increase. At this point, it's unclear how much of an increase, but if approved, the source says it could happen by next August.
Congestion pricing just weeks away
The $9 congestion pricing toll is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the MTA's capital plan, including infrastructure investments and new signals to reduce delays.
"It's about capital spending," said Renae Reynolds, of the Tr-State Transportation Campaign. "Our infrastructure is 100 years old, and that has to be improved."
But opponents aren't done fighting. A court date is set for this Friday, as they hope to get an injunction.
"This is a cash grab. If this was about congestion, we would be seeing limitations on how many for-hire vehicles could be in the Congestion Zone," said Valerie Mason, with New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing.
The MTA board is also expected to vote on purchasing 435 new subway cars, 80 of which are expected to have the open gangway design that lets riders walk through the entire train. They could be delivered by 2027 and would replace the cars with wood paneling and orange seats on the A, C, N, Q, W and Staten Island Railway.
The new cars would be paid for by congestion pricing.
