THOMPSON MAPS MTA CUTS

in order to pass a balanced budget, as required by law, the mta proposed fare hikes and deep service cuts. while fare hikes are immediate and the first thing straphangers notice, service cuts can be difficult to pinpoint. but if commuters wants to know why they are waiting an extra 10 minutes for a train or bus, they could check out a new online tool created by comptroller william c. thompson, jr., which shows what service will actually be cut in a neighborhood if the mta implements this so-called draconian budget. commuters can pick a train or bus line to find cuts, or get a comprehensive view of cuts in any zip code. in the three zip codes that make up the upper west side, cutbacks included fewer 1 local trains on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., fewer express 2, 3, a and d trains between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., less part-time subway station agents along the 1 line and the partial elimination of the m104 bus route. for full detailed information on proposed service cuts in any zip code, go to http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/opm/mtacuts/index.shtm.