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wcbstv.com - Transit Officials May Consider Subway Fare Hike

(AP) NEW YORK Mayor Michael Bloomberg raised hackles recently when he said of subway overcrowding, "So you stand next to people. Get real, this is New York."

Straphangers who thought they deserved sympathy for being packed in like sardines could get more bad news this week if transit officials vote to consider the system's first fare increase since 2003.

A Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman would not comment on published reports that the authority, which runs the nation's largest mass-transit system, will start the fare hike process on Wednesday when it takes up its four-year financial plan.

If an increase is on the agenda there won't be a decision until December. But the MTA board could decide Wednesday to schedule a series of public hearings on fare hikes for New York City Transit and the two commuter lines it runs, the Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road.

Labels: Local