Two bus lines in the area could cease running, another Riverdale line may no longer run at night, and the base subway and Access-a-Ride fare could increase to $2.50.

By N. Clark Judd

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has decided to set its financial house in order by cutting service in areas like Riverdale and Kingsbridge.

In a vote held last week, the MTA decided to institute a series of fare hikes and service cuts throughout the subway, bus, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road systems. These changes will be phased-in between May and July.

The vote delivered on a promise MTA officials made earlier last month to institute a so-called “doomsday” budget if the state Legislature and Gov. David Paterson could not agree on a program that would increase revenue for the public benefit corporation.

Lawmakers say they hope to avert doomsday before it dawns as part of the budget that should be headed to Gov. Paterson’s desk at the end of this week.

In the meantime, Northwest Bronx residents face the possibility that two bus lines in the area will cease running, another line through Riverdale will no longer run at night, and the base subway and Access-a-Ride fare will increase to $2.50, along with other service cuts and fare increases.

Depending on who is talking, the MTA’s dire fiscal straits stem from either years of under funding or years of fiscal mismanagement.

Either way, some Riverdale commuters say, the area’s middle class is paying for the mistakes of others.

“They should find other ways, because New Yorkers, we’re being taxed right and left,” said Luis Javier, commuting to midtown from Riverdale on Tuesday morning.

“I don’t think it’s fair, especially for poor people,” said Diurka Diaz, a researcher at Columbia University also headed southbound on the 1 train. “Money has been misused.”

She later added, “It’s not fair that the middle class has to pay for this.”