MTA proposes fare, toll increases and considers video cameras for trains

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will hold public hearings in December on proposals unveiled yesterday to increase fares and tolls by 4 percent over the next two years.

The agency has cut $1.1 billion from its ongoing expenses, but the "modest" fare and toll increases are necessary to balance the agency's budget, said MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Prendergast in a press release.

"The MTA is keeping its promise to ensure fare and toll increases are as low as possible, and these options are designed to minimize their impact on our customers," he said.

The agency expects to trim more from the budget to bring annual savings to $1.5 billion by 2017. Fare and toll increases cover 52 percent of the MTA's $13 billion operating budget, MTA officials said.

After the hearings, the MTA board will review and possibly modify the proposals before voting on them in January. If approved, they would take effect in March 2015.

Meanwhile, MTA also announced that its Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road won approval from a board committee to award $34.6 million in contracts for the purchase of inward- and outward-facing cameras in rail fleets.

The outward-facing cameras will be used to record track and wayside activities, and the inward-facing cameras will be used to record the engineer’s control area while a train is in operation. The two railroads also have elected to incorporate passenger-area cameras to improve rider and crew safety by acting as a deterrent to crime and providing forensic investigative capabilities.

A total of 2,064 rail cars and locomotives will be outfitted with the cameras under the base, 36-month contract. MTA's board is expected to consider the contract tomorrow.