MTA Will Delay Fare Hike Amid Coronavirus 'Suffering'

New York City NY

19 January, 2021

2:40 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — Cash-strapped straphangers won't have to worry ponying up more for their MetroCard swipes. MTA board members will opt to postpone a controversial fare hike for several months, according to a statement issued by the transit agency's Chairman Patrick Foye. Public comments — 2,100 of them — during hearings and beyond helped sway the board against the increase, Foye said. "What we heard at these hearings was that people are suffering and cannot shoulder even a modest fare increase right now," he said. MTA officials considered a wide swath of ways to raise revenue — from increasing the $2.75 fare to eliminating monthly MetroCard passes — as the transit agency faced a $12 billion hole and potential draconian cuts. The losses were driven in large part by cratering ridership on subways, buses and trains amid the coronavirus pandemic. But those were forestalled by a $4.2 billion infusion from a recent federal relief bill. The potential of more stimulus to come in President-elect Joe Biden's administration and under a Democratic-majority Congress also provides some hope. "Buoyed by President-elect Biden, incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the MTA also has hope for $8 billion in additional pandemic relief and continued federal investment in mass transit in 2021 and beyond," Foye said in a statement. "For these reasons, the MTA has decided to postpone the planned fare increase for several months. We plan to move forward with a discussion and vote on recommended toll changes in February."