Text size:

Straphangers brace for fare hike

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

7:51 PM EST, February 28, 2008

It¹s no secret that subway and bus fares are going up, but that the increases take effect starting Sunday seems to have eluded some New Yorkers.

"I've heard that there's going to be a 15 percent instead of a 20 percent bonus in effect the fare is going up," said straphanger Michael Bonifanti, 67, from the Upper West Side. "I don't know when that happens. I haven¹t seen any signs."

At the Manhattan 72nd Street station on the B and C lines where Bonifanti was waiting for a train Thursday, posters near the token booth trumpeted in several languages that the fare was going up. But some straphangers said they expected signs to be plastered on the platforms, just as service changes are.

Similar posters about the fare increases began showing up at subway stations and on all buses last week. Transit officials said they hoped the message would remain fresh on riders' minds. An information campaign, which includes brochures with tips for passengers, is continuing to be rolled out, they said.

"There was more publicity in prior fare increases," said William Henderson, executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "It just seemed like most of what I¹ve seen is one or two signs at subway stations. Pretty much all the buses I¹ve been on had one."

For Sunny Leigh, 40, the start date of the fare increase crept up on her.

"I didn¹t know it was this Sunday,² the Union Square resident said. "When it went up to $2, there were a lot of signs around." While the $2 base fare remains the same, the price of monthly and weekly passes increases and the bonus rate on pay-per-ride cards decreases. The MTA proposed the fare increase last July, pointing out that the agency faces $6 billion in future deficits.

Straphanger Adina Greenberg, 51, supports the hike.

"I don¹t know how much it¹s going up, but whatever it is I'll pay it because I think I¹m getting a good deal," said the Washington Heights resident who applauds the round-the-clock service. "The subway system is just amazing despite the dirt."

Transit officials also announced Thursday that riders who buy weekly and monthly MetroCards before the fare increase could activate them post-hike.

But officials urged riders to begin using them before March 10, a preliminary deadline to activate the cards, one that may change later.

Setting the deadline could prevent riders from hoarding multiple unlimited MetroCards at pre-hike prices, transit advocates said.

"There are people who do that," Henderson said. "I'm sure this weekend is going to be a very interesting weekend at the token booths and vending machines."