The MTA is considering altering subway fares to offer discounts for those using the train during off-peak hours, late nights and weekends. This will be the most prominent change to the subway system since the abolition of the token.
This past summer prices for a single ride went up 25 cents, from $2.00 to $2.25, although half of those riding the subway use an unlimited pass, and therefore the price differs depending on what type of card is used.
The unlimited-ride MetroCard was introduced in 1998. Ridership on weekdays has since swelled by 40 percent, and weekend ridership has risen almost 70 percent. In 2008, the average weekday ridership was 7.6 million, according to New York City Transit.
A new computerized, scannable fare card would allow New York City Transit to charge passengers different prices depending on the time of day. This kind of system is already available in London. Mr. Walder says the MTA has no plans to raise prices for longer trips, a system used in cities such as Washington DC and London.
Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Jay H. Walder says, “We might imagine that we offer discounts at later times, or we offer weekend discounts. Time-of-day pricing might be very attractive.”
The goal would be to encourage use of buses and subways during traditionally quieter hours. “We have an infrastructure that is set for the capacity of the peak,” Mr. Walder said. “What we really want to do is use that infrastructure all the time.”
About $220 million is included in the authority’s new capital plan to install a smart card payment system, a no-swipe fare card that is waved over a sensor to speed up payment. Mr. Walder wants the cards to be linked to credit card accounts and usable in multiple forms of transit. Unlike in other cities like London and DC, however, passengers in New York would not have to wave their cards again to exit the system.
What do you think about this proposed system? Please post comments for discussion.
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