Politicians Pass the Buck on MTA Fare Hikes

It is official, New York; an increase in MTA fares has been approved by the MTA Board. Beginning December 30^th (at least it is after Christmas), many of us will have to pay more for the city's public transportation. "While the base fare remains $2.25, the MTA is raising an unlimited monthly MetroCard from $89 to $104. The weekly will rise to $29. You'll also have to pay an extra dollar for a new card if you don't refill your current one," according to NY1's television show, "The Call."

I watched as people discussed the fare hike during Friday evening's show. An overwhelming majority of New Yorkers said they were unhappy about the increase. They expressed the sentiment that they are fed up with the MTA. They have been fed up for decades. Fares increase as services decrease. It would be abnormal to be happy with those circumstances.

Yet, few of the show's callers had attended public MTA hearings to express their opposition to the hike. People I've spoken with feel there is no point to public hearings. They feel that no matter what they say, the MTA is going to do what it wants anyway. So, why bother? New Yorkers have an unusual relationship with the MTA. It is personal and almost as if the MTA is another person.

I did not attend my local public hearing, but not for the reasons stated above. The MTA is my main source of transportation. So, of course, I'm not happy about paying more for less. Yet, I'm not as unhappy as many other New Yorkers.

Though I am a born New Yorker, I once lived in a small New England town. It had no public transportation and an unreliable taxi service. There was not much within walking distance of my house. So, it was own a car or be stranded. The car payment, insurance premium, gas, mechanical upkeep, and parking pains were perpetual headaches. To drive in inclement weather was nerve-wracking. And to sit and wait for loved ones driving in danger was a nightmare. So, I don't mind paying a little extra to have transportation at my beck and call. It is less expense and aggravation than owning a car.

The folks who do mind mainly blame Mayor Bloomberg for the MTA's incessant problems. The Mayor likes to pretend that he has nothing, whatsoever, to do with the MTA. Yet, he may be at least one-quarter responsible.

"The MTA is governed by a 17-member Board. Members are nominated by the Governor, with four recommended by New York City's mayor and one each by the county executives of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Putnam counties (the members representing the latter four cast one collective vote)," according to the MTA.

The Mayor's responsibility is contingent upon how many of his nominees are accepted to the Board.

Given the MTA Board's structure, the politician's involved pass the buck. The Mayor blames Albany (the Governor) or the Board. The Governor blames the Board. And the Board doesn't blame anyone because it doesn't answer to the public.

The MTA should be restructured so that the Board is elected by the people and answers to the fare-paying people. Then, like politicians, board members would have to try to satisfy the people in order to be re-elected. If the majority of the people were dissatisfied, board members could be voted out.

As for the legitimacy and necessity of the fare hikes, the MTA posts its budget and financial statements here. All who are economics experts can examine them and decide if the increase is fair. The rest of us have three choices. We can either pay the increased fares; find alternative modes of transportation, or protest. We usually pay and that is why the MTA never changes.

Sources:

The Call Staff, "MTA Approves Fare Increases," NY1 News
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, "MTA Leadership"
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, "Budget"