Fuschillo: MTA Needs to Come Up With Alternative to Fare Increase

I am Writing in regard 'to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 2011 Preliminary Budget and Accompanying the 2011-2014 Financial Plan, wakes were recently released. While I am Aware of the unexpected financial 'challenges you not have encountered since taking over the MTA last fall, I Can not support the authority's plan to Increase fare and toll revenues by 7.5 PERCENT in January 2011. Commuters and transit riders do not deserve girls on fare increase, and, in addition "They simply can not AFFORD one. The MTA Needs to Come up with an alternative. 

As the MTA has acknowledged, a 7.5 PERCENT Increase in fare revenues MEANS That Long Island Rail Road commutation costs will Increase by as much as 9.4 PERCENT. This is why I have come top of a 10 PERCENT fare Increase in June 2009, a Nearly 4 PERCENT Increase in March 2008, and about an 8 PERCENT Increase in March 2005. 

In Addition to a fare Hike Proposed in 2011, the MTA is also Life Style seeking to "nickel and dime" LIRR riders by reducing the time period wakes During Certain ticket types are valid, Increasing the fees for Certain ticket transactions, and eliminating the Mail & Ride discount (2 PERCENT) and the Metro Card discount (4 PERCENT) for commuters Ken Purchase joint, monthly commutation tickets and MetroCards. All of These 

fare-related increases are just too much. 

Unfortunately, the MTA increases jo not have begun. Last month the MTA Board Approved Increasing parking fees for the Mineola Intermodal Center and the garage at the Ronkonkoma train station and an 20 PERCENT 25 PERCENT, respectively. These increases certainly Appear to Be unnecessary, adding to the financial 'Burden That LIRR commuters must endure. 

As the economy Thurs Struggle Continues and the Unemployment Rate Remains High, It Seems hard to fathom That the MTA wants Thurs keep webcam more from riders while providing and less service. Inflation Remains Low, But the MTA wants to, once again, Hike Fares by Nearly 10 PERCENT. This trend only Serves that make transit less and less affordable, Especially for Suburban rail commuters Ken Purchase Thurs often not have monthly or weekly MetroCards in to Thurs Addition Their commutation tickets. 

The MTA has stated That Albany agreed Thurs 07.05 PERCENT fare and toll revenue increases for Both in January 2011 and January 2013 as part of an MTA Financial Assistance package that was Approved by the Legislature and the governor in May 2009. The so-called MTA Bailout, wakes up occurred before you Returned to the MTA, includes a new regional tax, Payroll and Other tax and fee increases were That Originally Estimated Thurs generate Nearly $ 2 Billion annually for the MTA. While some legislators in Albany May not have Signed-on to the Planned 2011 fare and toll increases as part of the MTA Bailout, Ask a question, it Pointed Out That Neither myself nor Any Other Senate Republicans supported this legislation and the adoption of a regional Payroll tax. We continue Thurs Believe That, for monetize hmmmm, the MTA was a flawed Bailout