Winners
Hoboken commuters – The Hoboken PATH station opened Wednesday for the first time since Hurricane Sandy. Hoboken has had an especially difficult recovery; without commuters headed to and from the station, downtown businesses have struggled.
R train riders – R train riders traveling between Brooklyn and Manhattan will finally be getting full service again. One of the last remaining segments of the MTA still not back to normal since Sandy, the MTA announced service will be up and running on Friday.
Meriden, CT – Capitalizing on a future commuter rail station on the New Haven-Springfield line, the city is planning to transform its downtown area into a Transit-Oriented District.
Losers
MTA riders – The MTA board voted to raise fares today, making this most recent fare hike the fourth in five years. The cost of a single ride will be $2.50, up $.25 from $2.25 and the cost of a monthly unlimited pass will be $112, up $8 from $104. The new fares take effect in March 2013.
New York State Thruway Authority – The Thruway Authority is shifting cost burdens to the State to get its financial house in order. The state budget is projecting a $982 million deficit in 2013. Transportation advocates worry how this could impact road, bridge, and transit projects around the state.
