Vote on Raising Fares Delayed by MTA Board

The board was expected to consider two proposals for a fare and toll increase across its network of trains, buses, bridges and tunnels. The higher fares would have taken effect in March.

But Gov. Andrew Cuomo opposes the fare increase, and board members have struggled over how to raise fares, even though the subways and buses are still failing to deliver reliable service. Transit leaders say they might have to cut service if a fare increase is not approved.

At a board meeting Thursday, Peter Ward, a board member who was appointed by Cuomo, made a motion to table the fare discussion “until we’ve had some time to think about it and be just a little more thoughtful.”

Lawrence S. Schwartz, another ally of Cuomo, wants to introduce a third fare proposal in an effort to bind fare increases to measurable service improvements.

The debate over fares comes against a backdrop of a power struggle over the future of the system and political pressure from Cuomo, who has relentlessly criticized the transit agency in recent weeks. Some board members have raised concerns over the board’s independence after Cuomo recently called off the L train shutdown without their approval.

The board has raised fares every two years, but this is the first fare increase to be considered since the subway descended into crisis in the summer of 2017.

Transit leaders have offered two options for fare increases of about 4 percent: The first would keep the base fare at $2.75 but end the bonus for buying a pay-per-ride MetroCard; the second would increase the base fare to $3 and double the bonus to 10 percent.

A weekly pass would rise to $33, up from $32. A monthly pass could increase to $127, up from $121.

The fare and toll increase is expected to bring in an additional $316 million per year.

Even if the proposed fare increase is eventually approved, the authority is facing a broader budget crisis. Subway leaders have warned of steeper fare increases and major service cuts if state lawmakers do not approve new revenue sources for the system this year.

Cuomo, who controls the authority, has called on state lawmakers to approve congestion pricing, a proposal to pay for subway upgrades by tolling cars entering the busiest parts of Manhattan.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.