MTA hearing on rate hike met with calls for congestion pricing

A public meeting was held in Brooklyn Monday to get rider feedback as the MTA considers rolling out another fare hike, and commuters were not pleased.
The hearing was held at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus in Downtown Brooklyn. Nearly every commuter who attended expressed opposition to the proposed fare hike, with many saying subway service doesn't seem to be improving, but prices just keep rising.
Some were calling for MTA changes instead of more hikes. Transit advocates and elected officials are urging the governor and lawmakers in Albany to pass congestion pricing instead to get the funding needed to keep the subways running.
But the MTA has said the fare increases would be necessary to help make repairs and maintain the city's aging subway system.
There are two proposals on the table for the base fare, which currently is $2.75 with a 5 percent bonus for a purchase of at least $5.50. The first proposal would keep the fare at $2.75, but would take away the bonus. The second proposal would raise the fare price to $3, but add in a 10 percent bonus with the purchase of at least $6.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's against the fare hikes. He and other lawmakers are leaning toward implementing congestion pricing and restructuring the MTA.
Other public hearings are scheduled this week in Queens and in West Nyack, in the Hudson Valley. The MTA says comments can also be submitted online by midnight on Dec. 13.