Surveys

What Are the Most Pressing Issues Facing New York Now?
01/30/2008
What is the greatest threat to the New York you love?
11/30/2007
What does it cost you to live here?
11/08/2007
Can one person change the city?
10/22/2007

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MTA Riders Pay More Than Other US Cities, But Is the Subway Still a Bargain?

Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 03:22pm
Submitted by Jonathan Sills

MTA fare hikes came under scrutiny again in the press yesterday over a report detailing that New Yorkers pay for a higher percentage of their mass transit through fares than any other city in the nation. An article in the NY Daily News, titled New Yorkers taken for a ride with transit costs - report, called it unfair that city residents pay a greater proportion of the costs of mass transit than any other city in nation. The News began a campaign last week called "Halt the Hike" urging state officials not to go ahead and increase subway fares by 25c in March of '08.

While MTA officials admit that the agency is set to make a $400million surplus this year, they claim increased fares are needed to offset increased costs in the fiscal year 2009 that will also eat up much of the surplus. Governor Spitzer has declared fare hikes a "last resort", and many local elected officials have also come out against them. However, there are two different issues here -- one, that fare hikes are necessary or unnecessary to balance the state purse, and two, whether New Yorkers are paying too much for their mass transit.

The News' graphic demonstrates that city residents pay considerably more than their compatriots in Chicago and Philadelphia, but the News leaves the New York Post to pick up where we left off almost a month ago in our blog about the fare hikes -- Is Mass Transit a Livability Issue? -- in asking whether fare hikes are, well, fair. In Even with Hike, Fares 'A Bargain', the Post points out as we did, that use of the city's public transportation is still much less expensive than that of other cities across the globe, even quoting the same $8 equivalent as us on London's Underground system.

For example, currently, for the same $2 fare you can travel one stop in Manhattan or all the way from Rockaway Ave, Brooklyn, to 207th Street in Inwood, Manhattan, a distance of nearly 22 miles. Clearly, most people do not travel that far daily on the subway, but the point is that a similar distance on the London Underground, even at the lowest discounted rate (off-peak and with the Oyster card) would set you back nearly $7. Through this lens, the MTA looks like good value for money, even if fares are hiked. But are they really a good deal?

Tell us whether you think the proposed fare increases are just another example of the cost of city living spiralling out of the reach of the masses or a rare example of something that in a wildly expensive city is still reasonably priced.

Fare hike or no fare hike, if you present a MetroCard during the Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York exhibition, you'll receive 10% off at Urban Center Books & 20% off regular MAS walking tours. For customized travel directions, visit www.mta.info and use Trip Planner, NYC Transit’s new online travel information service.