Another MTA fare hike on the way?

'Third fare hike' alarm
By DAVID SEIFMAN and TOM NAMAKO, NY Post

The new MTA chief yesterday wouldn't rule out another fare hike in 2010 -- which would mean a third consecutive year of increases hitting subway and bus riders.

"We don't know yet what the circumstances will be and I don't want to be in the range of conjecturing what's going to happen," said agency CEO Jay Walder.

He was responding to a Post question about whether Gov. Paterson's proposal to slash $115 million in aid to the MTA -- part of a larger plan to shore up the state's abysmal finances in 2009 -- would mean fare hikes are on the way.

"Clearly, there is a discussion taking place in Albany about what they need to do in terms of the deficit-reduction plan that will take place. And we will deal with all the circumstances as they come up," Walder said.

Earlier this year, riders and taxpayers tossed the MTA a $2.3 billion lifeline to prevent fares from rising 23 percent.