Later Wednesday morning, the MTA board will vote on a so called ‘Doomsday Budget’ that calls for drastic fare hikes and layoffs.

While it may not be the final word on the agency’s cash crunch, it is a big step that could end up costing commuters big time.

The ‘Doomsday 2009 Budget,’ expected to be adopted Wednesday, spreads the pain around to everyone who travels in the region, unless of course Albany bails out the MTA.

MTA officials say they have no choice but to take drastic steps in order to balance the budget and erase the MTA’s $1.2 billion deficit:

Under the plan, there would be 2,700 layoffs, bus and subway routes would be eliminated, shortened or reduced and they’ll try to cram in another 10 to 18 standees in each car and bus.

The Long Island Railroad would cancel and combine trains.

Metro North would have fewer cars, squeezing more people in each one and decreasing service.

Also, there would be fewer cash lines at the MTA’s nine bridges and tunnels and everyone would face two fare hikes, a 23 percent fare hike in June 2009 and a 5 percent fare hike 18 months later.

On December 10, a legislative subcommittee heard from Richard Ravitch, head of the commission recommending, among other things, new bridge tolls, a payroll tax and fare increases to help fund the MTA’s operating and capital budgets, which are billions of dollars in the red.

If Ravitch’s recommendations are passed, commuters would face an 8 percent fare hike, but without the funding stream.

And, said the head of the MTA, expect significant service cuts and a compromised capital plan which advocates say the system can’t afford.

The MTA says it will pass a budget that includes service cuts and fare increases this month, but will amend it if it gets more funding from lawmakers in Albany.

(Source: WCBSTV)