Train Trouble Hits Hunter
Hunter students decry the fare hikes
Deandra Khan
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News
In a decision extremely unpopular with many New Yorkers, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted last month to increase public transportation fares even as the MTA cuts back on bus and train services.
The response from Hunter community is unequivocal: students say the plan "sucks."
The fare hike, which was approved on March 25, is set to go into effect on May 31 of this year unless the New York legislature decides on a bailout for the MTA, a remote possibility according to many.
Current bailout-less plans indicate that single-ride fares will increase from $2.00 to $2.50 per ride, while a 30-day unlimited MetroCard will now cost $103, a far cry from its original price of $81.
Some transportation service will also be cut. The new plan has eliminated overnight services of the M102 and M103 buses used by many Hunter students. The M23 bus, which helps Hunter students commute to the Brookdale labs, nursing school, and dorms will also see some service cuts.
The 6 train, which stops directly at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue, will likely be affected as well. According to the MTA website, a revision of loading guidelines will now allow 125 percent of a seated load during weekday mid-days and evenings, resulting in "1-2 minute longer waits and larger passenger loads" for the 4, 5, and 6 trains.
In addition, some booth agents will be eliminated at certain stops along the 6 train, including 28th Street, 33rd Street, 42nd Street, and 59th Street, resulting in less MTA personnel.
These projections, listed in an extensive MTA transportation report, are expected to save the Authority millions of dollars each year.
For the subway-hopping Hunterites, though, the changes remain extremely unpopular.
Junior Danny Blondell said he wouldn't be surprised if the reason for the fare hike wasn't a true deficit, but corruption.
"It doesn't make sense that the MTA seems much worse off than other City agencies [even though it provides the worst service of all agencies]," he said. "I'd like to know where the MTA's money goes," he maintained.
The response from Hunter community is unequivocal: students say the plan "sucks."
The fare hike, which was approved on March 25, is set to go into effect on May 31 of this year unless the New York legislature decides on a bailout for the MTA, a remote possibility according to many.
Current bailout-less plans indicate that single-ride fares will increase from $2.00 to $2.50 per ride, while a 30-day unlimited MetroCard will now cost $103, a far cry from its original price of $81.
Some transportation service will also be cut. The new plan has eliminated overnight services of the M102 and M103 buses used by many Hunter students. The M23 bus, which helps Hunter students commute to the Brookdale labs, nursing school, and dorms will also see some service cuts.
The 6 train, which stops directly at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue, will likely be affected as well. According to the MTA website, a revision of loading guidelines will now allow 125 percent of a seated load during weekday mid-days and evenings, resulting in "1-2 minute longer waits and larger passenger loads" for the 4, 5, and 6 trains.
In addition, some booth agents will be eliminated at certain stops along the 6 train, including 28th Street, 33rd Street, 42nd Street, and 59th Street, resulting in less MTA personnel.
These projections, listed in an extensive MTA transportation report, are expected to save the Authority millions of dollars each year.
For the subway-hopping Hunterites, though, the changes remain extremely unpopular.
Junior Danny Blondell said he wouldn't be surprised if the reason for the fare hike wasn't a true deficit, but corruption.
"It doesn't make sense that the MTA seems much worse off than other City agencies [even though it provides the worst service of all agencies]," he said. "I'd like to know where the MTA's money goes," he maintained.
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posted 12/24/09 @ 12:46 PM EST
I think that this subway need a bit of changes.
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