Fair Increases?

Update, Monday 3 p.m.: An MTA spokesman sent the following statement in regards to our story on the most recent fare increase:

"Over the past year we have undertaken the most aggressive cost-cutting initiative in the history of the MTA, reducing costs by more than $525 million and eliminating more than 3,500 positions," the MTA spokesman said. "But the work is far from over, with recurring savings due to increase to $1 billion by 2014."

Like death, taxes and bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic along the Long Island Expressway, fare increases on area trains and buses in recent years has become an inescapable reality.

So when the calendar hit Dec. 30, riders greeted news of the instituted by the Metropolitan Transit Authority with a near-collective shrug. 

But not everyone is taking this latest MTA hike on subways, buses and commuter trains lying down. After three straight years of mass transit fare increases — along with corresponding toll raises on the city's bridges and tunnels — pressure on the state transit agency to cut administrative and personnel costs while keeping the same level of service is only likely to intensify in the year ahead.

"There is no question that the MTA hasn't done all it could to keep fares down," said incoming state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Whitestone. "As in many other areas of this city, it seems budgets are being balanced on the backs of the people who can least afford them."

Avella's sentiment was largely in line with daily commuters like Anthony Pelizzi, waiting for the next train to Penn Station at Little Neck Long Island Railroad this morning.

"I just don't know how they can keep raising the fare and yet the service gets worse every year," Pelizzi said. 

Avella, who was sworn in as state Senator representing northern Queens this week, pledged to increase oversight over a transit agency he said had become overburdened with bureaucracy and extravagant perks.

The MTA did not return a call for comment by this afternoon.

Of particular issue for northeast Queens residents was the cancellation of Q79 bus service earlier in 2010 as well as the suspension of a group ride vehicle service along the same route last month.

"I'm happy that they tried it," said Councilman Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens, referring to the canceled shared-ride van system. "But they need to do it right."

While the Taxi and Limousine Service attempts to find another private carrier to restart the van service, Little Neck residents, like North Hills Estates president Judy Cohen, are  to bring back the Q79 bus.

"If they're going to charge us more, we should be getting the same level of service at least," Pelizzi said.

Here's a chart of the fare and toll increases that took effect Dec. 30:

$6.50 (non-EZPass)