‘Doomsday' Possible for Commuters

New York mass transit officials have approved a "doomsday" budget that could mean rate hikes of 23 percent or more for Connecticut rail commuters.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority board members hope the state or federal government will pitch in with additional aid to stave off the service cuts and fare increases.

Fares would rise on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North by an average of 23 percent.

The chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council said Metro-North's New Haven Line could lose four trains as a result of the new MTA budget.

A fare increase on the New York section of the New Haven Line must be approved by Connecticut. However, Connecticut is responsible for more than 60 percent of the cost of the New Haven Line.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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