Metrolinke fare hike delayed

Metrolink's board postponed a decision to bump up commuter train fares by 4.5 percent Friday, after officials agreed to dig through the system's budget to find ways to avoid the price hike. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

Pointing to the nation's sputtering economy and rising unemployment, board members agreed these are tough times to burden passengers with the hikes, which were designed to generate $2.6 million to offset rising operational costs.

The decision returns to the board next month when Metrolink staff unveils alternatives to the fare increases, such as cutting train service and asking other transportation agencies from nearby counties to absorb some of the rising costs.