MTA Weighs Fare Hikes, Drastic Cuts Next Year Without Stimulus

NEW YORK CITY — A budget under consideration by MTA board members assumes there will be no hope on the horizon in 2021.

The transit agency's board met Wednesday to discuss a grim budget plan for next year and potential cost-saving measures such as fare hikes.

Without $12 billion in federal aid, MTA would be forced to make "draconian" cuts of up to 40 percent on subways and buses and 50 percent on commuter rail roads, as well as 9,400 layoffs, MTA Chairman Patrick Foye said.

"We are taking the approach of planning for the worst but leaving room to adjust for the best," Foye said.

Planning for the worst could hit riders — who stayed away from MTA's buses, subways and trains during the coronavirus pandemic — directly in the wallet.

The board voted to pursue fare hikes that raise passenger revenue by 4 percent.

That doesn't mean $2.75 fare will go up, although that's not exactly off the table either. Board members discussed eliminating 30-day unlimited MetroCards and other days-long passes as a way to raise more revenue.

But other changes in the worst case scenario budget, which faces a vote in December, would drastically change service for passengers. In short, strap hangers could look back on days when they groused about a 10-minute delay as a luxury.

Service cuts of 40 percent on subways could bring about less frequent trains, certain lines losing service during parts of the day and major weekend changes, officials said.

The prognosis is similar for buses. The budget proposes to cut bus service by 40 percent by eliminating or consolidating bus lines, and reduce frequency by up to 33 percent on remaning routes, officials said.

The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuter trains would see 50 percent service cuts — which will result in peak train frequencies of every 20 to 30 minutes on busy lines, or hourly on those that are less busy, officials said.

The proposed changes can be averted if Congress approves $12 billion in federal aid, officials said.