MTA: Stop Raising Bus and Subway Fares!
MTA: Stop Raising Bus and Subway Fares!
The Issue
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, more popularly known as the MTA, is set to raise the price of bus and subway fares again beginning on March 22. The price is being raised from $2.50 to $2.75 per ride. Assuming that during a 52-week year an individual utilizes the subway and/or bus five days per week on average, the twenty-five cent increase translates into another $130 per year. As noted by the infographic, this means that the bus and subway fare has increased over 25% since 2008. In addition, the prices of the 30-Day Unlimited Ride Metrocard and the 7-Day Unlimited Ride Metrocard will rise respectively to $116.50 and $31. Increases in fares are set to increase continually over the next two years (New Fares and Tolls Go Into Effect March 22nd, n.d.).
The MTA boasts on its website that it has "cut $1.1 billion from its annual spending, with more cuts planned every year to bring annual savings to $1.6 billion by 2018." If this is the case, then who is benefiting from it? It certainly is not the daily bus and subway rider. The MTA also brags on its site that the bonus added for individuals who purchase at least one round trip is more than doubling which makes the actual fare hike only about ten cents for the Bonus Metrocard (New Fares and Tolls Go Into Effect March 22nd, n.d.). Is this supposed to console us, particularly those who could barely afford the $2.50 fare?
Maybe the MTA should look within to find ways to cut down on expenses. Daily News Reporter Kenneth Lovett (2014) revealed that in 2013 over ten thousand, or one in seven, MTA workers earned six-figure salaries, including Chairman Tom Prendergast whose total cash compensation was $359,877. The top earners consisted of members of upper management. 85% of the MTA police employees made at least $100,000, while averaging $125,912. I do not doubt that the average MTA employee works hard for his or her living, particularly train operators, bus drivers, and those involved with subway maintenance, but these figures are a bit inflated considerous the service provided by the MTA. In addition, I sincerely doubt that Tom Prendergast and his upper management colleagues work so hard in their cushy offices to be raking in the highest salaries of them all.
It should also be mentioned that the MTA should utilize their money more wisely. For instance, the ridiculously extravagant and newly finished Fulton Center subway station in Manhattan cost $1.4 billion. That's a lot of money that could have been used to clean, repaint, and even modestly renovate many other (probably all) subways stations that look like garbage particularly in poor neighborhoods. I am also sure that a good portion of that price tag could have been used instead to keep the bus and subway fares lower.
Therefore, this petition is for all New Yorkers who are tired of the exorbitant rates that they have to pay to use public transit. We need to speak up if we no longer wish to be exploited, so please join me and sign this petition.
Lovett, K. (2014). Over 10K MTA employees earned six-figure salaries in 2013: report. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/10k-mta-employees-earned-six-figure-salaries-2013-report-article-1.1817547
New Fares and Tolls Go into Effect March 22nd (n.d.). Retrieved from http://web.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/2015FareTolls/
The Issue
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, more popularly known as the MTA, is set to raise the price of bus and subway fares again beginning on March 22. The price is being raised from $2.50 to $2.75 per ride. Assuming that during a 52-week year an individual utilizes the subway and/or bus five days per week on average, the twenty-five cent increase translates into another $130 per year. As noted by the infographic, this means that the bus and subway fare has increased over 25% since 2008. In addition, the prices of the 30-Day Unlimited Ride Metrocard and the 7-Day Unlimited Ride Metrocard will rise respectively to $116.50 and $31. Increases in fares are set to increase continually over the next two years (New Fares and Tolls Go Into Effect March 22nd, n.d.).
The MTA boasts on its website that it has "cut $1.1 billion from its annual spending, with more cuts planned every year to bring annual savings to $1.6 billion by 2018." If this is the case, then who is benefiting from it? It certainly is not the daily bus and subway rider. The MTA also brags on its site that the bonus added for individuals who purchase at least one round trip is more than doubling which makes the actual fare hike only about ten cents for the Bonus Metrocard (New Fares and Tolls Go Into Effect March 22nd, n.d.). Is this supposed to console us, particularly those who could barely afford the $2.50 fare?
Maybe the MTA should look within to find ways to cut down on expenses. Daily News Reporter Kenneth Lovett (2014) revealed that in 2013 over ten thousand, or one in seven, MTA workers earned six-figure salaries, including Chairman Tom Prendergast whose total cash compensation was $359,877. The top earners consisted of members of upper management. 85% of the MTA police employees made at least $100,000, while averaging $125,912. I do not doubt that the average MTA employee works hard for his or her living, particularly train operators, bus drivers, and those involved with subway maintenance, but these figures are a bit inflated considerous the service provided by the MTA. In addition, I sincerely doubt that Tom Prendergast and his upper management colleagues work so hard in their cushy offices to be raking in the highest salaries of them all.
It should also be mentioned that the MTA should utilize their money more wisely. For instance, the ridiculously extravagant and newly finished Fulton Center subway station in Manhattan cost $1.4 billion. That's a lot of money that could have been used to clean, repaint, and even modestly renovate many other (probably all) subways stations that look like garbage particularly in poor neighborhoods. I am also sure that a good portion of that price tag could have been used instead to keep the bus and subway fares lower.
Therefore, this petition is for all New Yorkers who are tired of the exorbitant rates that they have to pay to use public transit. We need to speak up if we no longer wish to be exploited, so please join me and sign this petition.
Lovett, K. (2014). Over 10K MTA employees earned six-figure salaries in 2013: report. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/10k-mta-employees-earned-six-figure-salaries-2013-report-article-1.1817547
New Fares and Tolls Go into Effect March 22nd (n.d.). Retrieved from http://web.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/2015FareTolls/
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Petition created on February 5, 2015