Riders Open Wallets Wider As MTA Fare Hikes Kick In
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Your commute into New York City is going to cost you more as MTA fare and toll hikes went into effect Sunday.
The cost of MTA 'per-ride' MetroCards has increased by a quarter to $2.75. Weekly MetroCards rose $1 to $31, and monthly MetroCards went up by $4.50 to $116.50.
Long Island Railroad and Metro-North fares went up by 4 percent.
Riders Open Wallets Wider As MTA Fare Hikes Kick-In
In addition, tolls are up about 4 percent for EZ Pass users at MTA Bridges and Tunnels and about 6 to 10 percent for cash customers.
Un-fare; that's the feeling of some fed up commuters who say the MTA is taking them for a ride with the new round of hikes, CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported.
"I just feel like the MTA is pretty incompetent, so it makes me really disgusted," said Metro-North rider Boreta Singelton.
One rider told 1010 WINS' Derrick Dennis paying up meant cutting back in other areas.
"I mean there's not much you can do. You just have to cut back in other areas. That may be food for some people, that may be clothes," John Parrios said.
"I think they're hitting us again. The guy who's the working class. I think it's kind of a shame," said subway rider Fabrice LeClercq.
Riders Open Wallets Wider As MTA Fare Hikes Kick-In
Mike from Queens said he is already feeling pinched.
"I don't want to speak for every twenty-something-something-year-old, but we are broke," he told WCBS 880's Monica Miller.
Many frustrated commuters said they don't feel they should have to pay more for the service, or lack there of.
"The service is not improving. The trains are still late. The trains are still dirty," said subway rider Melissa Thomas.
The MTA said the fare hike is modest and necessary to balance its budget against increased costs. The agency said the increase is part of a pattern that began in 2009 to hike rates every other year, while keeping the increases predictable and modest.
