MTA Board Approves Doomsday Budget

The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today approved major fare hike and service cuts to close their 2009 operating budget deficit of $1.2 billion. The board approved the gap closing actions, which include raising fares by 23% and reducing or eliminating services on several city subway and bus routes and commuter rails, while appealing to the legislature for assistance in staving off the drastic measures. Here is what Kevin Corbett, co-chair of RPA's transportation coalition, the Empire State Transportation Alliance, had to say.