After MTA Proposes Fare Hikes, Curran Urges Board To 'Vote No'

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — After Long Islanders expressed displeasure over an MTA proposal to increase fares, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has urged against such a move.

The transit authority held a virtual public meeting Tuesday evening where residents and stakeholders offered feedback on proposals to raise fares and toll revenue by 4 percent, Newsday reported. Speakers including New York State Sen. Todd Kaminsky expressed opposition to the plan.

In a statement to media outlets Thursday, Curran joined the opposition, saying commuters in her county cannot afford a fare increase, particularly as the state sees surging coronavirus cases.

"I call on the federal government for immediate aid for the MTA," Curran said. "We must ensure that the MTA has a plan that provides long-term sustainability and shows real transformation savings before we burden riders with a fare increase. I ask that the MTA Board vote no on a fare increase."

You can view the MTA's proposed changes for the Long Island Rail Road below.

LIRR & Metro-North

Monthly, Weekly, and Other Ticket Types

• Increase monthly ticket prices up to 4.3 percent. Increase weekly ticket prices up to 5.9 percent. Increase fares from zero percent to 11.2 percent on all other ticket types (including but not limited to City Ticket and Atlantic Ticket), with any increase greater than 6 percent held to a maximum increase of $0.50 per trip.
• Alternatively, the board could adopt a proposal to increase monthly ticket prices up to 4.3 percent, increase weekly ticket prices up to 5.9 percent, and increase fares in an amount from zero percent to 16.7 percent on all other ticket types (including but not limited to City Ticket and Atlantic Ticket), but retain authority to offer revocable pilot programs or conduct field studies that provide discounts on some or all ticket types.

Other Fare and Policy Proposals:

• Special discounted fares, supplemental step-up, on-board fares, and ride extension fares may be subject to percentage increases higher than increases to base fares due to rounding.
• The new Elmont Station would be designated as an LIRR Zone 4 Station.
• Maintain current Mail & Ride Program distribution channels, or distribute Mail & Ride only through Mobile platform.
• Maintain current Mail & Ride discount for Joint Monthly Railroad Pass + Unlimited MetroCard (2 percent), or eliminate the Joint Monthly Railroad Pass + Unlimited MetroCard.

Alternate Flat Fare Proposal:

• Maintain current fare zone structure, or condense zone structure to two zones (a New York City Zone excluding the Far Rockaway Station, and a Suburban Zone comprising only Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess and Putnam Counties and the Far Rockaway Station) and three fares (travel within the City Zone, travel between the Suburban Zone and the City Zone, and travel within the Suburban Zone only), with no peak or off-peak travel price differential and no monthly discounts. For Metro-North, this proposal will not apply to the West of Hudson fare and zone structure. Under this proposal, other discounted fares will be maintained, and 10-trip tickets may be eliminated.
• Under this proposal, LIRR ticket prices would be up to the following amounts:
  • One-way ticket prices would be up to: $8.25 within the City Zone; $14.50 for Suburban-City travel; and $7.25 within the Suburban Zone.
  • Monthly ticket prices would be up to: $182.00 within the City Zone; $318.00 for Suburban-City travel; and $192.50 within the Suburban Zone.
  • Weekly ticket prices would be up to: $58.25 within the City Zone; $101.75 for Suburban-City travel; and $59.75 within the Suburban Zone.
• Under this proposal, Metro-North ticket prices would be up to the following amounts:
  • One-way ticket prices would be up to: $12.00 within the City Zone; $14.75 for Suburban-City travel; and $8.00 within the Suburban Zone.
  • Monthly ticket prices would be up to: $262.00 within the City Zone; $329.00 for Suburban-City travel; and $175.00 within the Suburban Zone.
  • Weekly ticket prices would be up to: $83.75 within the City Zone; $105.25 for Suburban-City travel; and $54.25 within the Suburban Zone.