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FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Don Gibson doesn’t take the train into New York City that often — maybe two to three times per month. But after hearing that the cost would rise over the next three years, the Fairfield University professor admitted that he would ride even less frequently.
“It makes you think about just taking your car,” Gibson said. “If it gets to the point where you can park for that much [in the city], you might as well do that.”
Metro-North Railroad will raise its fares on the New Haven Line for the first time in seven years on Jan. 1, the state Department of Transportation announced Friday. Costs for tickets will rise 4 percent each year for 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Those increases are in addition to the 1.25 percent increase in 2012 and 1 percent added each year after that until 2018 the state had already planned to help pay for the new M-8 rail cars going into service now.
“We have held the line on fare increases since Jan. 1, 2005,” DOT Commissioner James Redeker said Friday. “During that time, however, operating expenses grew by 12 percent due to inflation. I believe it is now reasonable to impose some modest increases.”
For example, when the new year arrives, monthly passes from Fairfield and Southport to Grand Central will rise from $308 to $325. One-way peak prices will increase from $14.25 to $15. When the Fairfield Metro station opens in November, it will follow the same fare structure as Fairfield’s other two stops.
Metro-North and the DOT originally planned to raise fares by 16.4 percent starting Nov. 1. But after hearing commuter complaints throughout the summer at public hearings and with the state budget now more secure, the state settled on a 12 percent increase over three years.
“While operating costs continue to go up, now that state budget issues have been resolved, we can live with something less from the fare box,” Redeker said. “I am also pleased that we will not have to reduce any service.”
Reactions at the Fairfield Center train station Monday were mixed. Some travelers, such as Michael Fox, understood the state’s position and were willing to pay the increase. “I do know that the state’s hurting for cash, so sometimes you have to do what you have to do,” Fox said. “But I’d rather see them tax visitors more so than tax residents.”
Others, including Mary Scinto, were less forgiving. Scinto rides a few times a week on off-peak times. She said Monday she might stop riding the New Haven Line if fares keep rising or if conditions don’t improve. She also said the increases could be counter-productive for a state working to get people off the highways.
“Taking the train is an economically friendly decision,” Scinto said. “That’s a positive thing. You want to encourage people to take the train and use less gas.”
To reach Greg Canuel, email gcanuel@thedailyfairifeld.com.
