Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the defeat of a proposed disproportionate fare increase on Express Bus riders.  The Mayor vigorously opposed the unequal increase on Express Bus riders and worked to remove the Express Bus fare increase from the overall Metropolitan Transportation Authority budget proposal, which will be voted on by the MTA’s board today.

“We led the effort to oppose a fare increase on Express Bus riders from $5.00 to $7.50 – a rate of increase far larger than what the MTA is asking other transit riders to pay – because it would have done far more harm than good, and it would have hurt neighborhoods with the least transit options the most.  Imposing a disproportionately large fare increase on Express Bus riders would have reduced mass transit use, causing riders to switch to their cars and creating more congestion and more pollution.  Taking the proposed 50 percent increase in Express Bus fares off the table is right for Express Bus riders and right for the entire transportation system.

“We need action from legislative leaders in Albany to ensure the MTA does not return the bad old days of the 1970s, when a lack of funding resulted in a near collapse of the system.  Now is the time for them to stand up and put forth their solution for a stable funding stream to prevent major service cuts and fare increases and to fund capital investments.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)