In the early 1990's Mayor David N. Dinkins testified at a transit system hearing with his own plan to avert a fare increase, which, while not adopted, helped to prevent a fare increase.
Mr. Brodsky has called for the state to increase its financing of the authority to prevent the fare increase altogether.
His strong stance suggested that the debate over how to prevent sharp fare increases and service cuts could drag late into the budget season.
That set off rounds of prolonged and sometimes intense negotiations, as transit officials and elected leaders sought ways to prevent the fare from increasing to $1.40.
Mayor Edward I. Koch pressed Albany to adopt new real estate taxes to prevent a fare increase, which was influential in Gov. Mario M. Cuomo's decision to appoint a transit financing panel.
"The Assembly is prepared to reverse today's decision by the M.T.A. and prevent massive fare hikes and service cuts from going into effect," Mr. Silver's statement said.
"We want to retain our black livery, we hope to retain local knowledge for drivers and are hoping to prevent a fare increase for the customers of our town.
Kevin P. Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, which represents corporate travel departments and business travelers, predicted even lower fares ahead as the traditional airlines try to prevent low-fare competitors from taking passengers, no matter the cost to profitability.
The tool is designed to assist airline operation controllers in making decisions about out-bound flights to prevent high-fare connecting passengers from incurring more delays by missing their out-bound flights.
