Public hearings on the MTA’s “doomsday” plan to raise fares and cut service continue tonight, at 6pm in Brooklyn at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams St. (map here) and in White Plains (also at 6pm) at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave. (map).

To avoid doomsday, state legislators and Gov. Paterson will have to pass the Ravitch Commission’s funding recommendations (including a payroll tax and tolls on East and Harlem River bridges) or find another way to fund the MTA by March.

To register ahead of time, call (212) 878-7483 or register at the hearing (registration will close at 9pm). Comments can be submitted online here or by mail to MTA Community Affairs, 347 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10017.

Planned Fare Increases for NYC Transit/Bee-Line/Metro-North (more details here)

The base MetroCard fare would go up to $2.50 ($3 cash). Express bus fare would increase to $6.25. Unlimited MetroCards would cost about 25% more. Bee-Line bus fares would increase by the same amount because the system accepts MetroCard (the MTA does not run Bee-Line).

Metro-North fares would increase by 24-29% generally. For example, a monthly ticket between New Rochelle and Grand Central Terminal would go from $169 to $216, and a peak one-way ticket from White Plains to Grand Central would increase from $8.75 to $11.

Brooklyn Service Cuts and Adjustments

• Eliminate service on the B23, 25, 37, 39, 51, and 75. Eliminate weekend service on B2, 4, 7, 16, 24, 48, 57, 65, 69, 71, X27, and X28. Eliminate overnight service on B7, 14, 31, 45, 48, 57, 64, 65, 67, and 77. Reduce operating hours on B2, 4, 9, 11, 13, 16, 69, 70, and 71.
• Eliminate G service between Court Sq. and Forest Hills-71 Av at all times, making Brooklyn-Queens travel more difficult. Eliminate M service between Bay Pkwy and Broad St. Eliminate Z service and run J local between Myrtle Ave. and Jamaica Center at all times. Eliminate late-night N service to Court St. and Lawrence St.

Westchester Service Cuts and Adjustments

Metro-North would cut one peak and seven off-peak weekday trains and one weekend train in the east-of-Hudson system (Harlem, Hudson, New Haven Lines). Metro-North riders would also experience more crowded trains and rollbacks in customer service. There are no planned Bee-Line cuts, since the system is not run by the MTA.

For a full list of planned “service adjustments” and scheduled public hearings, visit the MTA’s website.