In June, after more than two years of campaigning by advocates, activists and grassroots groups, the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced they’d struck a budget deal: one that included funding for the Fair Fares program, which would provide half-priced MetroCards to New Yorkers living below the federal poverty level.
The initiative, which experts say could potentially benefit as many as 800,000 low-income New Yorkers, is set to roll out in January, though the city has yet to release a detailed plan for how it will operate. Eligibility criteria, how many people the program will serve during its initial rollout, and exactly how participants will obtain their discounted MetroCards are all factors still being worked out, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office.
One detail that we do know, revealed at an MTA committee meeting last week, is that the half-priced fares will only apply to the purchase of weekly and monthly MetroCards. Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards, which users can purchase and load with any amount of money over $5.50, are exempt from the discount, at least initially—something city officials say will allow them to get the program launched on time.
This news was a disappointment to transit advocates who’d pushed for the passage of Fair Fares, who argue that the city’s most cash-strapped New Yorkers are not always able to afford the upfront costs of a weekly or monthly MetroCard, even at a discount. Under Fair Fares, a 30-day MetroCard would cost $60.50 while a 7-day would cost $16.
23 comments:
"800,000 low-income New Yorkers"
So how do we know they are from New York ?
There will also be a black market for these too.
This is just going to once again put burden on those who are considered "middle incomers". How do people think they will fund the hit they are taking? By raising everyone elses fares. So instead of seeing the fares go up once every 18 months to 2 years, itll start going up every 6 months to a year and then soon, nobody except for the "poor" will be able to ride the mta. This is a bad idea. I can see it now.
They're getting closer and closer to what they really want to say: People who make under a certain amount of money should not have to pay to ride the subway.
Suckers! Just jump the turnstile. It's not a crime anymore.
Gotta admit I feel like the biggest heel filling up my metrocard when everyday, and I mean everyday I see multiple people fare beating.
This is a terrible idea again killing the working middle class family.
This city will soon be composed of the poor and the wealthy only !
I have seen tourists go through the gate when commuters are exiting. It's not just derelicts and recidivists.
I wouldn't worry about those fair fare cards, the city and state has made applying for it difficult and the only waste it's going to cause is the unused reduced fares tacked on because they are strictly 7 and 30 day cards. The majority of people that wanted this (including yours truly) wanted the cards to be fare by fare or arranged like the school metrocards that only work on the weekdays, for there are thousands of commuters that don't use transit on the weekend.
They're getting closer and closer to what they really want to say: People who make under a certain amount of money should not have to pay to ride the subway.
And YOU middle class folks will pay for this!
Anonymous said: "This is a terrible idea again killing the working middle-class family. This city will soon be composed of the poor and the wealthy only!"
WAKE UP. It's already here. How many middle-class families do you know go on vacation every year, eat out regularly, see a Broadway show or the opera once a month? Rent, food, clothing, and transportation to work is the top priority so there is barely any money left over for extras. And, if you're single, retired, or otherwise out of the workforce, that's a bigger nut to crack.
Does it feels like an economic depression to you or have I become a conspriracy-theoriest?
OK. So it's set to "roll out" January 1, 2019. But no details. Really? They don't know how many riders they'll serve on the "roll out" but they've struck a deal. Really? And who makes up the shortfall in the budget for this new benefit for those under the poverty level. The working poor? Somewhere there's got to be plans in the works for an increase in the fare for the others who are marginal. Dontcha think? The middle class, if there is such a thing anymore, will take this laying down as usual!
How about 1/2 fare MetroCards for veteran's and Active Duty? I do not hear anyone suggesting this!!! Sick and tired of supporting poor people. Middle Class is the new poor people, we want our discounts too.
The working poor like myself,will surely benefit from a reduced rate half price weekly pass.Sometimes I choose between food or paying 32.00 for a weekly card.
Extra 64.00 monthly savings doesn't seem alot,but it puts more food on my table and helps me survive until my job status gets better.There are tens of thousands of New Yorkers like me..
Don't you critics have any compassion?
What is wrong with helping the working poor who truly need help paying their transportation? I barely make ends meet and I would welcome this reduced fare program.
It's not like the city is offering a check in the mail to bums taking advantage of the system.This is for people who use buses and trains.Not money used for cigarettes,liquor,lottery tickets or whatever..Have a heart💓💓💓💓
As an engineer with 45 years experience (Brooklyn Tech '70) I can tell you we follow certain techniques to find the faults in the systems we work with. We then pareto them to establish root cause.
Fact is all of the above are not discussing the root cause of the problem.
The root cause is the cost of running the subway system.
Solve that problem and everyone wins.
How much do "working" transit workers cost per year. Include in that vacation time, sick time, overtime pay, insurance programs etc. Do they get more sick time and vacation time then their civilian counterparts? Do they get more overtime then their civilian counterparts? Compare the percentage of medical disabilities to their civilian counterparts. Are the civilian disabilities tax free like government employees? Holidays? - most in the civilian sector get 10/year.
Now look into the cost of the retirement programs. 20/30 year retirement? You have to be kidding. Most civilian companies now offer only 401K programs for retirement.
That also means no long term medical insurance, unlike government employees.
This is why it costs so much to ride the train. Reduce the cost and everyone wins.
@Anonymous said..."As an engineer with 45 years experience" So what !
You beleive that the "working man/women" is the problem ?
You are puting the faults of the MTA on the worker while Management made all the decisions.
Sounds like you have a job with poor or no benifits and want to take them from someone who has earned them through hard physical work for decades.
In view of the recent reports of pending doom caused by climate change, make mass transit free and put some real effort in upgrades and expanding the system! In addition to promoting better use of resources this will also relieve people of the mental upset caused by fare-beaters.
Anonymous said...
@Anonymous said..."As an engineer with 45 years experience" So what !
You beleive that the "working man/women" is the problem ?
You are puting the faults of the MTA on the worker while Management made all the decisions.
Sounds like you have a job with poor or no benifits and want to take them from someone who has earned them through hard physical work for decades.
Well part of the problem is high cost of employment and the heads who make so MUCH MONEY. The mta heads make a killing in the salary. The people who work for the mta make a killing on overtime. The reason why they are making overtime? Too many delays due to faulty tracks and systems. If the trains actually ran smoothly, there would be no delays. Just look at the 7 train, everyday it has signal problems, instead of them changing the signals to new ones, they keep fixing the old ones. Why? It's called job security for the the people who fix the lights. All of these costs, adds up to a SHITLOAD of overtime for workers because their trains cant get back in time for the next shift change because the train was delayed. I think they should keep bus fares the same and eliminate the free transfer from bus to train. The people who only take the trains should pay more for the rides since thats where most of the overtime probably lands on. The bus drivers probably only get overtime when the bus breaks down or there is alot of traffic or the weather is bad. The subways though are a million times worse than the buses! Always delays and problems on them.
To the anonymous that said "...make mass transit free and put some real effort in upgrades..."
So you want less revenue for the MTA and an increase in disbursements?
Why don't you quit your job and buy a bigger house and a more expensive car?
You essentially gave the MTA the same recommendation.
Learn how to budget your money, problem solved.
"You are puting the faults of the MTA on the worker while Management made all the decisions."
In my experience in union shops, management have very input to decisions.
It's all about what is in the "contract" which was decided upon by politicians.
The above poster mentions the 7 line with signal problems.
As an engineer with 45 years experience I'd ask some basic questions.
Are the signals LED or incandescent bulbs? LED bulbs hardly ever burn out.
How are they powered? Use low current 5 volt with battery backup.
How are they connected to the "system"? Use cat 5 with wireless backup.
The 7 line is a perfect example to be used to start fixing problems.
But I can guarantee the UNIONS will block any such improvement or innovation.
And politicians in NYC do what the UNIONS want.
Anonymous said: "Learn how to budget your money, problem solved".
I just love when some wiseass always posts this comment when the subject is the "poor" who are being accommodated. Remember, not everyone makes a living wage. And, if I recall, there is a segment of the population who are in the "working poor" category.
Not everyone in this city is making enough money to "budget". And you can't get blood from a stone especially if the rent is raised every year and your salary is not. Three-year leases disappeared about 15 years ago and two-year leases are as rare as hen's teeth, not to mention landlords can charge whatever they darn well please.
So get off your high horse and give those less fortunate a well-deserved break and thank your lucky stars you're not in their position.
P.S.: Don't tell me about the "poor" who have luxury cars and a big screen T.V. Not everyone is footloose and fancy-free with their take-home pay. And I'm still waiting for every working stiff to make $15.00 an hour. (Yeah, when pigs fly).
Farebeating is rampant on the subway and busses. There are 1000 less cops in the subway than there was with the defunct/ merged NYC Transit Police. The old days of farebeat sweeps is long gone..
It’s not the lights burning out,but the switches and actuators that are faulty. The trains will never run how you would like them too. Overpopulation,not enough experienced workers and a system that has no downtime for maintenance and major repairs.
Anonymous said ...
The reason why they are making overtime? Too many delays due to faulty tracks and systems. If the trains actually ran smoothly, there would be no delays. Just look at the 7 train, everyday it has signal problems, instead of them changing the signals to new ones, they keep fixing the old ones. Why? It's called job security for the the people who fix the lights.
There was an article/segment done on this. The company that made the parts went out of business years ago, and no one else is making those parts anymore. Instead, MTA has an in-house team making/fixing it. While I don't know enough to agree or disagree with the job security comment, MTA need to look into the long term solution instead of continuously patching. I'm sure the high budget and the downtime needed to revamp the whole system plays a major factor why nothing is done to day as no one in MTA management wants to tackle it.
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