McGorty Opposes 5% Rail Fare Increase

State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122) is circulating a petition to commuters in a concerted effort to stop the proposed 5% fare increase for all Metro-North and Shoreline East trains, which would take effect on December 1. For Metro-North commuters, the fare hike would be combined with a previously scheduled 1% increase, making the increase 6% in total.

The proposed fare increase is a direct result of the $37 million in cuts imposed on the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) by the administration as part of the 2016-2017 revised state budget passed by majority legislators last May. In its announcement of the proposed increase, the DOT said that it expected the higher fares to generate $5.9 million.

“This is one of the many unfortunate results of the terrible budget passed at the end of last session that slashed the subsidies to Metro North fares,” said Rep. McGorty.  “This administration and majority Democrats are making it harder for businesses to stay in Connecticut, and now they’re making it more expensive for people that have jobs to get to them.   It shows backward priorities, and we need to stand up against this rate hike.”

ABOVE: Rep. McGorty takes to the train platforms to promote the petition against the Metro-North Fare Hike

McGorty noted that Metro-North passengers already endured 5% increases in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and 1% increases in 2015 and 2016. Because these commuters have no alternative for getting to work in many cases, there is little they can do to avoid these increases.

To help rail passengers make their voices heard, McGorty and his colleagues have created an online petition that is easily accessible online at www.nofareincrease.com.

The CT DOT has announced that public hearings will be held this month in six communities, including Stamford, New Haven, and Waterbury. The full public hearing schedule is posted at www.ct.gov/dot. The DOT is also accepting public comment by email through September 15 at dot.farecomments@ct.gov.