Photo taken on March 25, 2009 shows the metro cards of New York City, the United States. New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the state of New York, passed by a nearly unanimous vote Wednesday a so-called "doomsday plan" to raise fares, cut service and cut nearly 1,000 transit employees' jobs. The base subway and bus fares will jump from 2 to 2.50 U.S. dollars. The plan will reportedly help close the MTA's budget deficit, which is projected to be at least 1.2 billion dollars. [Xinhua]