Save Cornwells Heights
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
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Amtrak
to Hike Cornwells Heights Monthly Pass Cost 57%
Amtrak
announced yesterday that it would increase the cost of a monthly pass from
Cornwells Heights to New York City from its present $555 to approximately $712
as of October 16th, and $870 as of February (most likely February 16th,
but possibly earlier). The ultimate
rise to $870 will mean an extra annual outlay of $3780 per Cornwells Heights
commuter using a monthly pass. Another
reprieve from the hikes, in the short term, may not be likely.
How
You Can Protect Yourself From the Increase
Amtrak
allows monthly passes to be purchased for up to 11 months in advance at current
rates. Therefore, up until October
16th, it should be possible to make advance purchases of all monthly passes
needed for commuting through September, 2006.
The cost of buying 10 extra passes next month, in addition to the
November pass, would be $5,550. Monthly
passes purchased but not used may be turned back in before the month in which
they were to be used, and Amtrak refunds 90% of the purchase price under such
circumstances.
What
About Next Year?
Trenton
commuters can still get monthly New Jersey Transit passes for $320. A monthly Amtrak pass for the 104 miles of
commute from Philadelphia to Harrisburg is currently $299, and will likely rise
to only $469. Commuters using New
Jersey Transit trains to commute from little Campbell Hall in upstate New York,
almost the same distance as our commute, pay $279. Cornwells Heights, at $870, and Philadelphia itself, are in an
odd commuting fare warp zone. It is
possible that the warp can be corrected within the next year with continued
political effort.
More
News And Commentary To Come…
There
is much more that can and should be said about the impending Amtrak fare hike
and the bizarre fare warp zone being experienced by New York City commuters
south of the Delaware River. More will
be written here soon.
–
Rick