Fare hike not so fair?

Train ticket prices will increase by 4.3 percent

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Baldwin residents who commute via the Long Island Rail Road blasted the planned 4.3 percent fare hike in their weekly and monthly tickets that the MTA is expecting to implement on or around Aug. 20.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the LIRR’s parent company, recently voted unanimously to raise the base fare prices for LIRR train trips for the first time in four years. A one-way ticket from Long Beach to Manhattan, for example, will increase from $14 to $14.50 during peak hours, and from $10.25 to $10.75 during offpeak hours.

The fare hike will impact Baldwin commuters who frequently take the LIRR, and some straphangers said they believe that the quality of the train service does not warrant the new ticket price increase.

“I don’t think the quality of service and the frequency of the trains with the new schedule justify a 4.3 percent increase,” said Sheree Nicole, a Baldwin resident who commutes to the city four days a week. “Driving to the city is not an option for me, so I really don’t have a choice but to pay the increase unfortunately.”

Nicole purchases a monthly ticket of $227, so any fare hike will cause her financial stress, she said. She added that she is

One local supermarket, Gala Fresh Farms, at 2485 Grand Ave., continues to provide early access for customers ages 60 and over, as well as those with disabilities. For these vulnerable residents, the store opens from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and provides a special senior discount on Tuesdays.

“We still have free deliveries for anyone who needs help or support,” Jenny Jorge, owner of Gala Fresh Farms, said.

Jorge added that the grocery store diligently follows Covid-19 safety protocols and guidelines during all operating hours, especially during the period when they serve the elderly and disabled population.

These safety protocols took place shortly after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the implementation of Matilda’s Law in March of 2020, protecting individuals who are 70 and older by requiring them to stay home and limit home visitation to immediate family members or close friends.

During the height of the pandemic, local restaurants provided options for both pickup and delivery. However, Novi: New Old Venice Inn, at 99 Merrick Road, continues to offer those services, while A Touch of Italy, at 1187 Grand Ave., exclusively offers pickups.

During the pandemic, Baldwin Public Library employees encouraged local residents to use their community resources, which included e-books, audio books, live tutoring, language courses and test preparation. Residents who did not have a library card were offered digital library cards to provide access to these resources. In the aftermath of the pandemic, library employees

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