Question: What Does The MTA Do With A Billion Dollar Surplus? Answer: Raise Fares Again.



"The bottom line is the MTA has once again turned its back on its fundamental responsibility of providing safe, convenient, and user friendly service and decided instead to line their pockets with the hard earned cash of middle class commuters. At a time when we could be reducing air and noise pollution through the use of mass transit, it is wrong that the MTA puts forth an unfair and unjustifiable fare increase. It is time to de-rail this train wreck of a plan," said Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R-Syosset)

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo (R-Merrick) said, "Enough is enough. LIRR commuters do not need to see any more of their hard earned money going to finance a transit system that is supposed to work for them, rather than against them. I strongly urge the MTA to abandon this fare increase proposal."



Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) said, "The MTA has not established the rationale for this hike, nor the forecasting for the hike, nor any steps which the MTA is taking to hold down costs. This lack of transparency and lack of planning will spark a revolt by people paying for an unknown service. Making this proposal more egregious is that this fare increase is on top of previous, recent hikes, including 25% in 2003 and an additional 5% in 2005. This does not include surcharges created to purchase a ticket on the train from a conductor."






Senator Marcellino speaking on the Senate floor - telling Governor Spitzer’s MTA Chairman appointee NO NEW FARE HIKES