By Sarah Moskowitz
The Metro Transit Authority announced Nov. 21 its decision to up transportation fares and tolls to raise $1 billion in order to solve a predicted deficit. Targeted for the increase are the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, subways and Metro Cards, bridges and tunnels. The fare increases, plus New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed non-resident income tax, or commuter tax, for people who work in the city but live elsewhere, could have commuters digging deeper into their pockets.
"No good," said Mike Addiego of Malverne. "The service does not warrant the raise in the fare. In the past two weeks the train has been late, crowded and filthy. For this, I don't see the need to pay an increase in the fare."
The MTA's proposals are divided into three options, and all will raise fares to various degrees. Option A calls for subway rides to cost $1.75, up from $1.50, plus an increase of 10 percent on LIRR and Metro-North fares. Option A also cuts 5 percent of services, peak and off-peak trains, ticket windows and waiting rooms, and raises bridge and tunnel tolls by 25 cents. Option B and C both hike subway fares up to $2 and increase bridge and tunnel tolls by 50 cents. Option B implements a 20 percent increase in LIRR and Metro-North fares and calls for a monthly unlimited ride Metro Card to cost $70, up from $63. Option C would put a Metro Card monthly unlimited pass at $84 and would skyrocket LIRR and Metro-North fares an estimated 30 percent.
A resident of Malverne who preferred not to be named because of his affiliation with the MTA had mixed opinions about the fare increase.
"I know that they need to do a lot of work to keep the subways and railroads running efficiently," he said. "Some increase is warranted, but not the increase that they're looking for."
The last fare hike was in 1995 and raised fares 25 cents, which at the time was the largest hike in the history of the system. The proposed fare hike, if approved by the MTA Board, could be implemented as early as March. A final decision on which fare hike option will be adopted will take place after the MTA holds public hearings in the upcoming months. An MTA spokesperson said the hearing will be scheduled after Jan. 1, and in the meantime, comments about the proposals can be made on the MTA Web site at www.mta.info. These comments will be added to the public hearing record.
Bloomberg's proposed commuter tax could feed about $500 million annually into the city's budget. It would be put into the city's general fund to be used towards filling a $5 billion budget gap that has plagued the city for two years.
The commuter tax has previously been implemented in 1966 but was lifted in 1999 due to strong opposition by state officials. At the time the tax rate was 0.45 percent of a worker's salary.
At the time, Town of Hempstead Councilman James Darcy (R-Valley Stream) was a state assemblyman and was able to oppose the tax. He said that is a reason why he is so strongly opposed to the tax now.
"It's inherently unfair and we are completely against it," said Darcy. "The people who commute into Manhattan to work already contribute to the city's economy."
Darcy said that he has heard of possible commuter tax rates anywhere between 2.35 and 4.8 percent. No official time line for the decision was available as of press time. Darcy also said the commuter tax is a case of taxation without representation since area residents do not vote in city elections.
"One of the basic principles of American society has been no taxation without representation," said Darcy. "This would just be somebody reaching into their pocket again to take tax money out."
Darcy has visited seven LIRR stations, including Lynbrook and Malverne to petition against the commuter tax. Darcy said that he collected about 2,000 signatures from commuters opposing the tax. The intent is to send the signed petitions to state representatives and Governor George Pataki to make them aware of the strong opposition in this area.
Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino (R-East Rockaway) has also expressed his disapproval of a commuter tax.
"The commuter tax should be derailed permanently," said Santino. "The last thing Nassau residents need is higher taxes. New York City should get its own fiscal house in order without reaching ever deeper into the pockets of commuters who already pay some of the highest fares and tolls just for the privilege of going to work."
Often commuters prefer to buy monthly LIRR passes into Penn Station rather than buy a roundtrip ticket every weekday. Because of zoning differences, a pass for unlimited monthly roundtrips from Lynbrook and Malverne costs $135 and from East Rockaway, $154. The combination of train fares plus a $63 Metro Card per month has villagers looking at more than $200 in commuting costs, before another fare hike.
Lynbrook resident Mary McEnerney felt the MTA's pricing decisions favor city commuters over those from Long Island. She too, was dissatisfied with the conditions of LIRR trains.
"It's a lot of money," said McEnerney. "Plus the commuter tax, it'll cost a fortune. I really don't think it's fair because people who come from the city don't pay a commuter tax. Unless [the MTA will] improve the service, I would think that they can't really justify charging more."
McEnerney added that parking fees continue to add up a bill, costing as much as $65 each month to use the lot underneath the Lynbrook tracks.
Commuters, however, are not under an MTA monopoly. A city worker who chooses to drive to work may find a difference in commuting costs. Besides the cost of gas, several options into the city are the Brooklyn, Williamsburg, 59th Street and Manhattan bridges, all of which have no toll, or the Triborough Bridge and the Midtown Tunnel, which for passenger vehicles costs $3.50 in cash and $3 for EZPass users each way. But, driving into the city means finding parking, which can be a hassle, plus outrageous parking garage rates costing as much at $350 per month.
One Lynbrook resident who wished not be identified summed up his opinion simply.
"It all stinks," he said. That's pretty much all there is to it."
