Pelham Commuters: Fare and Toll Hikes Coming from the MTA

PELHAM, NY — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveiled two options on Wednesday for needed increase to fares and tolls over the next two years by less than 4 percent – or an average of 2 percent annually, consistent with the financial forecast made in July.

The proposals will be the subject of eight public hearings across the MTA region in December, including one in Rockland and one in Westchester. There are also other ways to have input during the public comment period.

MTA officials said their continued discipline in keeping costs down has resulted in the lowest increase since 2009, when the agency committed to a biennial schedule to keep adjustments as small and predictable as possible. Just over half of the agency's $15.6 billion annual operating budget comes from fares and tolls.

“The MTA continues to keep its promise to make sure that fare and toll increases, while necessary to keep our system running, remain as low and possible and that they are done in as equitable a way as possible,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “Fare and toll revenue cover just 51 percent the operating budget, which is why this modest increase is needed to ensure that subway, rail, bus and paratransit services continue operate safely and reliably and to fuel the region’s economic and financial growth.”

The MTA Board will review public input before a final proposal is selected and voted on by the full Board in January. The new fares and tolls will take effect on March 19, 2017.

Metro-North

For regular New York commuters – those using monthly and weekly tickets – the proposed increase is capped at 3.75 percent; monthly ticket increases are capped at a maximum of $15 for the longest trips; weekly ticket increases are capped at a maximum of $6.75 for the longest trips.

Under the proposal, commuters riding the New Haven Line who live in Zone 12, which includes Pelham, would pay $239 for a monthly pass.

Other riders would see a fare increase of 4 percent or lower; however, because increases must occur in 25-cent increments, some single-trip rides would increase by as much as 6 percent (but by no more than 50 cents.)

Fares for travel to, from or within Connecticut are not affected by this proposal. (A Connecticut fare increase is scheduled to be implemented separately on December 1, 2016.)

Charts outlining the proposed prices for specific stations and types of tickets are available at this webpage.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels

Proposed increases for car tolls for New York Customer Service Center (NYCSC) E-ZPass holders will increase by 4 percent or less. For non-E-ZPass users, increases are higher in order to encourage drivers to use it and in order to reduce congestion in advance of cashless tolling coming to bridges and tunnels.

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge

• Car NYCSC E-ZPass: from $5.54 to $5.76
• Car Cash or Tolls by Mail/Non-NYCSC E-ZPass: from $8.00 to $8.50

Henry Hudson Bridge

• Car NYCSC E-ZPass: from $2.54 to $2.64
• Car Tolls By Mail/Non-NYCSC E-ZPass: from $5.50 to $6.00

Public Review Process

The process includes eight public hearings throughout the MTA’s service territory, written statements accepted via email and regular mail, and transcripts of videotaped public comments.

There will be one public hearing in each of the five boroughs of New York City and one each on Long Island and in the northern suburbs east and west of the Hudson River. The hearings will be held at fully ADA-accessible locations until the scheduled ending time or all registered speakers have spoken, whichever is later. Members of the public can register to speak in advance by calling (646) 252-6777 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. To enable all members of the public to testify, the MTA asks that all remarks be kept to three minutes or less.

The dates and locations of the local hearings are:

Thursday, December 15, 2016:

• West of Hudson – Crowne Plaza Suffern, Montebello Ballroom, 3 Executive Blvd, Suffern, NY. Registration period is open from 4 to 8 p.m.Hearing begins at 5 p.m. By Metro-North: from Hoboken Terminal New Jersey to Suffern Station where taxi service is available.

Tuesday, December 20, 2014:

• Westchester – New York Power Authority, Jaguar Room, 123 Main Street (Enter on Hamilton Ave.), White Plains, NY. Registration period is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Hearing begins at 5 p.m. By Metro-North: to White Plains Station

Members of the public who wish to submit comments via email can do so through the website at www.mta.info, or by letter to MTA Government Affairs, 20th Floor, 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.

Customers may also visit the satellite facilities where comments will be videotaped. All comments will be transcribed and made part of the permanent record of these hearings. Please note there is a 3-minute time limit for each individual’s videotaped session, and there will be no opportunity for question-and-answer.

Those facilities include:

NYC Transit Headquarters, 3 Stone St., Manhattan
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 9 a.m. to noon
By Subway: to Whitehall St; to Bowling Green; to South Ferry
By Bus: M5, M5-LTD, M15, M15 SBS, M20, X1, X10

Metro-North Poughkeepsie Station
Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 5 to 8 p.m.
Pedestrian Overpass Waiting Room

Patch file photo