Elliot Sander first hit the street and now the airwaves to explain why he wants to raise the fare. He told Bill Ritter on WABC’s Up Close today that the MTA will be figuring out how to raise it in September and October. In November, the public will have their say. It’s still unclear how the MTA may propose to affect the public’s wallet. Sander said the hike could affect the base fare, monthly passes, express buses or some combination. He didn’t give much away, except to say he has a “sensitivity to express buses” because they will help ridership increases when congestion pricing takes affect. He wouldn’t say why he’s so sensitive, meaning he would not confirm if those bus fares would be exempt from a fare increase.
On Friday, Sander was told he could avoid a hike by asking Albany for more funding. Sander has said he plans on doing that in 2009, but Assemblyman Richard Brodsky told him to do it sooner. Brodsky said the lack of state support in the past 10 years is "disgraceful."
--Marlene Naanes
