Will the MTA Make Us An Exception?

Will the MTA be cutting Northeast Queens a break?

There are no promises or specifics, but maybe—yes—when it comes to a $1 surcharge that the MTA plans to add on to new MetroCards in 2013.

to the new policy by Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, D-Bayside, who said that it would put Northeast Queens riders at a disadvantage.

“Unlike MetroCard vending machines, LIRR vending machines are incapable of refilling previously purchased cards,” said Braunstein, adding that many of his constituents purchase their new MetroCards at LIRR station vending machines because they are the only available outlets. He also said in August, that he was surprised the agency to not to impose the fee.

But that may have changed. When Patch contacted the MTA for a follow up just before the Thanksgiving holiday, spokesman Sam Zambuto responded with this statement:

The proposed $1 surcharge for new MetroCards in 2013 is a fee that no one needs to incur.  Customers will have many ways to refill cards or purchase new cards not subject to the $1 surcharge, including through out-of-system vendors.   Exceptions to the fee are also planned.  The MTA will review the concern raised at this specific location prior to the implementation in 2013.

When we came back to the MTA to ask about where these "exceptions to the fee" might be implemented, we didn't get an answer in geographic terms.

They instead supplied us with a .