Sorry, I assumed that would be the headline instead of “MTA hike fare-y may visit us again”:

A rare back-to-back increase — along with service cuts — could be in store for commuters now that MTA number crunchers are suddenly dealing with a massive hole in next year’s budget.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s projected 2009 budget gap has ballooned — doubling or even tripling original estimates, sources said.

Without new state money, officials may soon raise the spectre of increases, service cuts — or both, sources and experts said.

“They don’t have many options,” one source said.

Subway riders gasped at the suggestion.

“I’m a recent college graduate so I can’t afford the subway as it is,” said Bryan Tran, 21, of Queens. “Any higher and I will have to walk everywhere. It’s ridiculous.”