Commuter Council Applauds Proposed Metro-North Bill

As a result of Metro-North fare increases, local commuter representatives are now in full support of a proposed bill that may allow riders more oversight over fare revenues.

"Commuters are being asked to pay 4% higher fares this year, next year, and the year after, which is consequential. This would bill would ensure that the money that commuters are paying in extra fares would be used for the mass-transit service that they take...that's at least the fair thing to do," Wilton and Norwalk State Representative Gail Lavielle (R-143), who is the primary author of the unnamed bill, told Patch. "They wouldn't find that the money out of their pocket, for example, is being used to balance the state budget."

Lavielle proposed the bill in Hartford in late December, and appeared before the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council on Dec. 21 and elaborated on its purpose.

"The general intent is that the budget for mass-transit in Connecticut be raised and remain raised by the amount of the fares," Lavielle told the CRCC.

According to Lavielle, in the past, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has simply collected fare revenues and used that revenue to operate, maintain, and improve Metro-North, and revenue is used only for these purposes in most situations.

"But it has happened in the past, for any number of reasons, and it could happen again, that the state could find it nessecary to reduce its subsidy to Metro-North...the bill would be intended to prevent that," Lavielle said.

Later that evening, CRCC later voted and unaminously agreed to support Lavielle's fare increase bill.

"Are they too high, are they not too high, that's all relative," Lavielle said in regards to the new fare increases.

Metro-North's first fare increase in seven years took effect on Sunday. Many point to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's "Plan B" as the source of the new fares, as the increase was among many other stipulations within the plan. While some initiatives in Plan B were dropped, Metro-North fare increases remained, and the proposed series of increases was solidified by October.

Lavielle hopes to increase awareness for the bill before it goes before CT legislators.

"The session starts on Feb. 28, there's usually a proposed bill deadline, which is a week to two weeks after the first day of session. It will be in the system during that period," Sen. Lavilelle said.