MTA calls out Metro-North’s ‘scary’ double-digit rate hike proposal for Connecticut

Connecticut wants to raise fares on Metro-North Railroad riders by a whopping 10% — and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority signaled Monday it’ll back the hike despite calling it “scary” and “exorbitant.”

The proposal from the Connecticut Department of Transportation is calling for a 5% jump in September and another 5% bump by next July, and could gain the begrudging support of MTA board members this week.  

“A 10% increase is scary,” said MTA board member David Mack at Monday’s committee meeting. “We’re gonna hang ourselves, but I’ll vote to move it to the full board.”

While the committee members signaled they’ll support the spike, some also complained the beleaguered MTA would be blamed for something Connecticut officials offered up.

Board member Neal Zuckerman said he was “actually kind of offended by a 10% increase,” arguing the MTA typically goes forward with smaller and more predictable fare hikes.

“Connecticut acting a lot like our neighbor to the south, New Jersey,” he said. “Raising things double digits is problematic … and I personally fear that, in fact, we will be tainted by this exorbitant increase.”

The fare increase proposal — which Connecticut officials is necessary to cover rising costs — needs buy-in from both the Empire State and the MTA.

The full MTA board is expected to discuss and vote on the proposal at its Wednesday meeting.

Under the plan, a one-way ticket between New Haven and Stamford would surge from $8.75 to $9.50 during peak hours by next summer, while a train from Stamford to Grand Central Station would go up from $16 to $17.75, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

The Connecticut DOT has claimed the only way to keep trains going is to hit riders with the rate hike.

The state’s budget passed in June left a funding gap for rail operations that spurred the rate hike, according to a DOT spokesperson.

“To avoid service reductions, CTDOT proposed fare increases to preserve current train levels,” the spokesperson said. 

“These fare increases will help maintain existing rail service levels by keeping the same number of trains on the schedule for our customers for the next two fiscal years.”