The New York Metro Transit Authority is attempting a facelift. All over the subway cars, the MTA boasts of its environmental and cost-saving accolades. A strong public transportation system is key to limiting urban sprawl and reining in emissions, but let’s hold on for a minute. Putting aside the frequent service delays, the fare hike that took place just last week, and the Second Avenue line that’s been in progress for decades, is the MTA full of it?
Believe It Not
One of the most powerful yet irksome subway ads: “Believe it or not. In 1986 the subway and bus fare was $1. That's $1.89 in 2008 dollars. Today a 30-day Unlimited Ride MetroCard brings the fare down to $1.17. Believe it.”
This was calculated for the $81/month MetroCard, which actually increased to $87/month last week. Even so, take a look at the math: $81 divided by $1.17 equals approximately 70 subway rides per month. The monthly fares are generally calculated on the assumption that a person uses at least two rides Monday through Friday (to and from work), which would be 40 rides per month. Although 70 rides isn’t entirely unreasonable for people who go out nonstop, it’s not a safe assumption that the average user rides 70 times per month.
Then consider: Did they really not have monthly unlimited fares in the 80s? If a single ride was $1 in 1986, and if that equals $1.89 in 2008 dollars, then the $2 fare (recently increased to $2.25) isn’t necessarily brag-worthy. If we do the same monthly math for 1986 as the MTA has done for 2008, then I have a feeing that we won’t be too impressed.
Now, Let’s Be Fair
In the MTA’s defense, it does do a commendable job of propagating environmentally friendly programs. It has a program in place to fuel buses with alternative energy sources — this includes some all diesel buses and the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel.
Though the MTA is notorious for taking forever to finish any of its projects, it is slowly attempting to build greener buildings that save more electricity. It’s working to make heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems more efficient. To save electricity, the MTA has been replacing incandescent train lights with light emitting diodes and fluorescents.
New technologies have been implemented to feed back energy into the train tracks every time a train breaks, similar to the idea behind the engines of hybrid cars.
Facilities have been set up to collect rainwater and redistribute it to places like car washes.
In summary: the MTA makes annoying subway ads, but it’s doing what it can.
“All the same,” I mutter as I reach for my now-more-expensive MetroCard, “I’ll believe the Second Avenue line when I see it.”
