Hefty Unlimited MetroCard Hike Not Official, MTA Says

Proposed fare hikes just get steeper

The MTA says a possible fare hike of $41 for an unlmited monthly MetroCard -- boosting the price to $130 from $89, currently -- isn't official -- just days after the agency raised for a second time the possiblity of the massive rate increase.

NBCNewYork was first to report last month that MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder had announced during a budget meeting that an unlimited monthly pass "would have to be $130 or higher" to fit into the MTA's new budget. 

On Monday, fine print of an MTA budget proposal again laid out the possibility -- and also announced that the base fare would indeed see a hike of 25 cents.  Originially, the $2.25 MetroCard was to remain unchanged in the newest round of fare hikes on track for next year.

Today, the MTA said the huge monthly card icrease "is not an official MTA proposal," The Daily News reported.

Fares are set to go up next year as the MTA faces "a $900 million shortfall for 2010 resulting from cuts to State assistance and dramatic downturns in tax revenue," the agency said.
 
The new fare hikes will target discounts and unlimited ride passes.

The original  plan had called for either a 30-day MetroCard that would be capped at 90 rides for $99 or a 30-day unlimited Metro Card at $104. 

The 14-day MetroCards would be eliminated.
 
 
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