MTA chief questioned on toll hikes

MTA chief Thomas Prendergast Thursday defended the biennial fare and toll hikes coming in 2015 during state Senate transportation committee meeting.

State Sen. Martin Golden of Brooklyn asked the MTA CEO and chairman whether savings at the agency could offset the need of fare increases.

"It's too early to tell right now," Prendergast said, adding he supports the fare hike schedule. "We have to look forward about a year from now."

Prendergast explained that reducing the fare hike would mean finding ways to make up the difference elsewhere, such as the payroll mobility tax on employers in counties surrounding the city or in its labor deal with MTA workers.

After looking at sustainable and one-off revenues, "we'll be able to say what the size of the ask is for the fare and toll increase," Prendergast said, noting a 1% increase would net $65 million in revenue. "We truly understand the impact this causes your constituents."

Golden suggested the fare increase would be a difficult sell to riders and drivers.

"It's going to be a very tough ask coming up for a lot of people in our communities," Golden said.