NY1
Updated 12:31 PM
MTA To Propose Service Cuts, Fare Hikes
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has prepared a tough cost-cutting proposal for consideration at Thursday's meeting which includes entire subway lines and bus routes disappearing and more than a thousand workers laid off.
Sources close to the budget process also say that the agency will propose a fare hike even greater than the eight-percent increase previously discussed.
NY1 has learned that officials are proposing dropping the W and Z lines completely, as well as cutting more than 1,500 station agent and administrative jobs.
The plan also calls for the G and M lines to be essentially cut in half and express service on the J train would be eliminated.
Overnight trains would be scheduled to run every 30 minutes instead of every 20. Midday service would also be cut back.
Dozens of bus routes with low ridership would be eliminated during late nights and weekends.
City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. released a statement denoucing the MTA's proposal to eliminate the W line.
"Astoria is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the city, and its trains are already overflowing with passengers," said Vallone. "To cut the only service to this neighborhood in half would be like choking the breath out of this community."
Straphangers say they are already dealing with slow service and the increased cuts will hurt both their commutes and their wallets.
"It's absurd, the service as it is is horrible; it's deplorable," said one straphanger. "You thinking of raising the fares, it's disgusting. I'm going to walk. I'm going to walk the bridge everyday instead."
"It's going to affect me budget-wise because I'm going to be spending more money to come to school and go to work," said another.
"The trains, I'd say, have been improving on their time," said a third. "I'm not sure what their plans are, but honestly, the economy is down and they have to do what they have to do."
Agency officials say the drastic measures may be necessary if the state does not step in with a bailout plan to help close a projected 2009 budget shortfall of $1.2 billion.
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