FARE HIKES STRAIN BRONX COMMUTERS

Amanda Yuan

BEDFORD PARK-LEHMAN COLLEGE STATION, July 24 – Strong responses from
the city’s straphangers are expected tomorrow, when the Metropolitan Transit Authority reveals its 2008 financial plan, which includes a fare hike.

“It’s not fair to the kids; it’s not fair to the elderly; it’s not fair to the people that work and pay their taxes here,” said Leslie (last name withheld), a subway commuter. “I try to avoid riding the train as much as possible because I feel like I’m being robbed.”

The Independent Budget Office conducted a review that estimated atleast a 20% increase in fares to meet rising debt due to transit improvements. Loans for transit improvements are estimated to leave the MTA $32 billion in debt by 2010.

“Things are so expensive to keep the tracks running and everything,they should raise it but not so high,” said Alberto Rivera, a straphanger.

The fare hike will be the most straining to working class subway riders. “It is two dollars back and forth that’s four dollars,” said Sohiara Martinez, a Bronxite. “People are not making so much money and it’s hard to survive. That’s why people are moving out [of New York]. Common folks can’t survive in New York.”