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It's been almost exactly two months since the fare hike for our city's public transportation went into full effect. Overnight, straphangers' wallets were a little heavier, facing a permanent $2.50 per ride fee as well as bumped-up prices for weeklies and monthlies. And presumably, no one was happy.

But there was another roadblock we'd now have to face collectively as commuters: a $1 fee if we decided to buy a new MetroCard instead of replenishing the value on our old one.

Naturally, it's a pain for those who've lost their golden tickets but the measure was an incentive snuck into the fare hike to discourage New Yorkers from wasting plastic (by the thousands). You would think we'd think twice about tossing our MetroCards into the trash once their lives ended. Turns out we didn't... and now the MTA is making much more money than expected from the tiny provision.

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G is for greenbacks, baby.

It's been a long, mean winter for the MTA. In 2010, the agency's budget woes led to a 7.5 percent fare increase, 1,000 lost jobs, and draconian service cuts across the boroughs. In 2011, Governor Cuomo reached an agreement with unions to freeze wages, and 2012 got by, barely, without cuts or hikes.

But now for some good news: 2013 is looking way, way better. And as the Voice's John Surico mentioned last month, there's even a little unexpected cash involved--the 2013-2014 budget passed in Albany surpassed the MTA's expectations by some sweet $40 million. Now, the obvious question: How the hell do we spend it?

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Along with a subway death solution, a review of the G train and a whole slew of transportation inconveniences, the MTA needs a technological upgrade. Luckily, that'll be arriving shortly (the other issues, maybe not so soon).

Two summers ago, the agency installed several new kiosks at the subway stations in Bowling Green, Penn Station, Jackson Heights, and Barclays. These "On the Go! Travel Machines" are everything one could want if you're 1) not from New York; 2) drunk, lost and unable to understand the stationary subway map; 3) more of a cab person (you know who you are); 4) two or more of the above. They're basically a combination of HopStop and Yelp!--you can pinpoint an exact route and then see neighborhood/leisure prospects along the way.

And now these $15,000-a-pop machines are coming to a station (77 of them, to be exact) hopefully near you. Hit the jump to see where.

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We all know the MTA's wallets are running thin, even amid record-high ridership. The recent fare hike and the fact that major project proposals are tripping over price tags are more than enough indication that the authority is handling the city's transportation on a slim budget.

So the news of a major cash injection from Governor Cuomo couldn't come sooner.

Yesterday, the Albany chieftain announced that the MTA would be getting $40 million more than it requested in state funds. In total, this fiscal year is witnessing an increase in transit aid across the state by about $360 million; most of which has come from the toll hike that has taken effect.

With that money, the MTA is proposing to set up a fund to better serve customers with all this new cash. The coming changes will not be released until July, when the agency releases its official budget. But, until then, we can speculate just what exactly the MTA should be working on to make sure the lives of New Yorkers are a bit less frantic.

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In the video featured above, the MTA teaches you, in classic infomercial fashion, how to use their new online service that tells you where the damn bus is anytime and anywhere. The program was started back in January of 2012, in which it was deployed to riders in the Bronx, Queens and strictly on 34th Street in Manhattan.

But, according to news yesterday, it will be available in all five boroughs by April 2014 - Manhattan, this very year. Once the fortified island goes online, Queens and Brooklyn will follow.

So, in due time, you'll be able to go everywhere in the Big Apple and find out just when exactly you missed your bus. It's always by twenty seconds.

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In August 2012, the Straphangers Campaign gave the F train a $1.40 grade, which is basically a B+ or a C-. The score was given based on cleanliness, breakdowns, and service--and, for the F train, this grade is generous. The line between Culver and Jamaica-179th Street is known for its long waits; if you decide to take it after midnight, best of luck to you.

But there is hope on the horizon for disgruntled commuters.

Yesterday, at a City Council budget hearing, the New York City Office of Management and Budget announced that the MTA will be conducting a review of the F train this summer once work is finished on the Culver Viaduct. The inspection could result in good news for all--an express F in Brooklyn; something that hasn't happened since 1987.

Except the proposal might not be as great as it sounds. The F train has a limited amount of trains on its line--hence the delays--so if it does become express, the trains will be distributed to either local or express routes. Also, the stops that used to be on the express line aren't exactly the most used ones. Obviously, much has changed in South Brooklyn in the past 26 years.

Oh, and the MTA doesn't have that much money. But we already know that.

But the news comes right after we heard the G train is getting its full line review as well. So we're keeping our fingers crossed.

[jsurico15@gmail.com/@JSuricz]

On March 3rd, the MTA will seek budgetary revenge on straphangers. Sorry, it's happening. And we're being service-y because it's the only thing left to do before this fare hike takes effect on Sunday.

So here's what you should keep in mind before you swipe your life away.

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The growing controversy over subway deaths has stricken all parties involved in the transportation scene.

The MTA, stuck with little cash to maneuver, has provided flat solutions, including platform doors and laser alarm systems, that are getting nowhere because, given, the agency can't get past the whole price tag thing. The Transport Workers Union Local has informed its conductors to slow down but this advice was chastised by the MTA as a major service delayer. As a result, the emergency meeting called by Councilman Joe Vacca ended in a yelling match between the union and the agency. And then there's the NYPD, with its officers busy Big-Brother-ing the mentally ill.

Needless to say, this controversy has hit a brick wall... at the worst time possible.

In the past five days, seven people have been struck by a subway. Do the math: that's more than a person a day. If that's not enough reason to spark urgency to this situation, we seriously have no idea what is.

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[UPDATE, February 22nd]

Looks like the public campaign by State Senator Daniel Squadron and others to refocus attention on the increasingly popular G train worked in the end.

According to the Daily News, the MTA has agreed to conduct a Full Line Review of the green line in an attempt to make the line run faster and smoother. A spokesman from Mr. Squadron's office informed the Voice that the judgement call for improvement will come some time in July.

Here's a statement from the Senator on the matter:

"G train riders spoke. Now, this Full Line Review will give us real answers to lead to real changes," said Senator Daniel Squadron. "Working together in the past, we've made dramatic improvements throughout the system -- including first-of-their-kind Full Line Reviews that led to better F and L train service. The MTA deserves great credit for its willingness to continue working together toward the reliable service G train riders deserve. Thank you to Senator Dilan, our colleagues, and the Riders Alliance for their continued advocacy."

South Brooklyners, rejoice!

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In a week, your MetroCard will be a little more heavy on your wallet. That's right; March 1st is the day the fare hike passed a few months ago activates. On that day, single fares will permanently rise to $2.50, weeklies to $30 and monthlies to $112. Yes, you probably know all about this but here is a bit of good news for people who love good news.

As of this week, you can now combine your mighty, unlimited MetroCard with your average, pay-per-ride MetroCard. Basically, if you upgrade a MetroCard with $5 already on it to an unlimited, that leftover cash will be stashed away for further use. Once the month is over, the MetroCard will revert to pay-per-ride and you'll be left with the $5. And this works vice versa, too: you can add a few bucks to your unlimited if you're that forward-thinking.

So you won't have to miss your train in order to renew it or get a quick single-ride but can't because the ticket machines are, of course, all not accepting cash.

In an effort to reduce the thousands upon thousands of yellow throwaways that litter New York, MTA interim head Thomas Pendergast told reporters this week that the new proposal is better for the environment and, also, your wallet. The $1 MetroCard refill fee will now be a thing of the past for users of this combo card. Buy yourself a can of soda with your new, well-earned money.

With the coming fare hike, we're just trying to make light of the good news we can find. Is that too much to ask for?

[jsurico15@gmail.com/@JSuricz]