Get It By May 31: MTA Offers MetroCard Grace Period

June 8 cut-off established to prevent hoarding

Subway and bus riders who buy unlimited MetroCards before fares jump on May 31st will get until June 8th to activate them – a small consolation as straphangers face a 25-percent rate increase.

The cut-off date of June 8 was established to prevent hoarding.  That means you won’t avoid the fare increases by buying multiple unlimited cards at their current value.
 
With plans for a bailout still up in the air, the State Senate is due to vote early next week on a proposal to stave off the so-called “doomsday budget.”

Senate Majority leader Malcolm Smith has introduced a bill that will pump money into the MTA coffers through a $1 tax on cab rides, and increased fees for driver’s licenses and learners permits.  New payroll taxes would be imposed in northern counties and there would be a new sales tax on car rentals, according to a draft of the bill.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn't a fan of the latest proposal. Half of the taxi fee it includes would fund upstate and Long Island roads and bridges. Smith says he's offended that Bloomberg is willing to exclude upstate and Long Island from the deal.

Without a bailout, the price of a basic per-per-ride fare will rise to $2.50 from $2 beginning May 31st. The costs of the unlimited-ride cards, which most riders use, will also increase: to $9.50 from $7.50 for the one-day fun pass, to $31 from $25 for the seven-day card, to $59 from $47 for the 14-day and to $103 from $81 for the 30-day card.

Customers who find themselves with unused or partly used unlimited-ride cards can send in the card for a cash refund on a pro-rated basis. Unused cards will be refunded in full.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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