Free Ride Ends for Staten Island Train Riders

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is moving forward with a proposal to make up a $750 million shortfall due to state cuts and losses of revenue.

While the “free” ride will end for Staten Island riders, students and former Transit employees will also see their free passes taken away in the proposed strategy to make up for the loss revenue.

Up until 1997, Staten Island Railways (SIR) trains had conductors that would collect fares prior to passengers boarding.  However, when Metro passes were introduced, the SIR did not want to restrict access at their stations, and implemented that their conductors not collect cash fares before boarding.  With that implementation, the services on Staten Island were effectively “free.”   That decision led to a loss of close to $3.5 million in paid fares for that year.

While Staten Island had been enjoying free rides due to the train services not having a conductor, the proposal for implementing a fare was not completely based in raising revenue.  The SIR saw a increase in vandalism and other criminal acts due to abuse of the system.  The MTA hopes that with the fares re-implemented, conductors will be permitted to return to the trains, and hopefully discourage the acts of vandalism and criminal activity.

The MTA will be system wide implementing smart cards, turnstiles, honor system and inspectors conducting spot checks on various trains.  For further information regarding changes proposed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), visit;  www.mta.info.

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