The MTA has yet another way to stick it to riders amid a massive budget shortfall -- the elimination of two week "unlimted" passes and then end of the line for one-day "fun passes"
The fun pass was originally marketed as an option for tourists while the 14-day MetroCard was supposed to be an alternative to the 30-day pass. But the MTA says neither really caught on, and now, staring at a $400 million budget gap, it seems both could seen their final demise.
The MTA has floated some other drastic measures to try and close its budget gap for 2011.
This includes fare increase and a limit to the unlimted Metrocards.
* For the weekly: a fare increase from $27 to $28, with a 22-trip limit on rides; or an increase to $29, with no limit.
* For the monthly: a fare increase from $89 to $99 with a 90-trip limit; or a whopping increase to $104, with no limit.
Also on the table: Demanding Nassau County and/or New York State come up with $40 million more to keep Long Island buses running, Newsday reports.
This could strand many of the 100,000-plus people on Long Island that take buses, Newsday reports.
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The move comes as the MTA said it was also considering shaving off some of the "off peak" discounts on the LIRR and also might limit "unlimited" weekly and monthly Metrocards by putting caps on the number of rides.
Off-peak rides make up 30 percent of revenue at the LIRR and 27 percent of trips, officials said.
