Increases * USA - New York Transit Agency Approves Fare & Toll ones

Fares will rise an average of 4 percent next year on New York City's subways, buses and commuter trains and some bridges and tunnels after the board of the largest U.S. mass-transit agency approved the increase

N.Y.,USA -Bloomberg, by Chris Dolmetsch -Dec. 19, 2007: -- ... The increase, the first since 2005 for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will begin to take effect in March. The state agency says it needs the money to maintain service, ensure safety, handle more riders and close a budget shortfall projected to climb to as high as $2.1 billion by 2011... Transit agencies throughout U.S. are raising tolls and fares to fund improvements and expansions as ridership increases because of rising gas prices and crowded highways. An expanding economy is also boosting passenger loads in the New York City region... (Photographer: Chip East/Bloomberg News: Commuters fill a downtown Lexington Avenue subway train in New York, on Aug. 8, 2007)