Is Your Booth Closing?

Last November, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that if it raised the fare to $2 it would not have to make service cuts. But that turned out to be untrue. In January, it announced plans to close 177 token booths, more than 25% of the booths in the subway system. Booth clerks — known as station agents — would be replaced by a combination of MetroCard vending machines and HEET's—which are floor-to-ceiling "High Entry/Exit Turnstiles" activated by MetroCards.

Many groups -- including the Straphangers Campaign -- oppose these closures because they will force riders to choose between their safety (entering at unstaffed locations) and convenience (having to travel further to staffed main entrances.)

Hearings on the closings will be held in all five boroughs between February 5th and 20th.

To find out if you are affected click here.

If your booth is closing, TAKE ACTION!

1. Call Governor Pataki today: 212-681-4580: Tell him to keep token booths staffed!
2. Attend or testify at one of the MTA’s public hearings:
• Manhattan: Wednesday, February 5, 4 p.m. The Roosevelt Hotel
• Bronx: RESCHEDULED!! New date: Thursday, February 27, 4 p.m. Bronx County Building, Rotunda
• Queens: Wednesday, February 19, 6 p.m. Queens Borough Hall
• Staten Island: Wednesday, February 12, 4 p.m. Susan E. Wagner High School
• Brooklyn: Thursday, February 6, 4 p.m. New York City College of Technology
3. Submit comments to the MTA at www.mta.info

For more information:

• Fact Sheet on Booth Closures
• Straphangers Campaign Testimony
• Testimony of Laurence G. Reuter, President, MTA New York City Transit
• Daily News Editorial (2/1/03)
• Newsday Editorial (1/27/03)
• Newsday Editorial (7/10/01)
• Decision from lawsuit requiring the MTA to conduct public hearings before closing booths
• Print Leaflet

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