MTA bosses splurged on a day of catered feasting at a Queens banquet hall for a workshop session Friday — rather than hold the event at one of their many facilities, The Post has learned.
The $6,000 field trip was hosted by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, which operates seven toll bridges and two tunnels in the city.
Some 150 managers and staffers with Bridges and Tunnels enjoyed a bagels-and-Danish breakfast and a hot buffet lunch at Riccardo's by the Bridge banquet hall in Astoria.
The event was paid for with the public dime — even as the MTA prepares to hike fares and tolls throughout its system.
"It's a very opulent, high-end, expensive place," one MTA insider said.
"Why are they spending all this money having it there when the MTA recently announced they have to raise fares?" said the insider, who asked not to be identified.
"It's a mess."
Asked about the daylong training session, MTA officials conceded the agency has access to other spaces that would hold 150 people.
But those spaces have auditorium seating, said spokeswoman Judie Glave.
Friday's training session required the workers to be broken into discussion groups at separate tables and to move among the tables, Glave explained.
"They were split into groups, and they had to move table to table, so they needed the space," she said.
"The overarching goal of the meeting was to help deliver quality customer service and better safety practices for both Bridge and Tunnel employees and customers who use the facilities."
That would be in between bites of sausage and peppers, chicken Francese and eggplant parmesan, all under the chandelier light of Riccardo's Suburban/Cypress Combo room.
Next month's fare hikes will effect virtually every means of transit the agency controls.
MetroCard swipes will go up from the current $2.50 to $2.75.
The price of a seven-day unlimited MetroCard will increase from $30 to $31, and monthly cards will rise from the current $112 to $116.50.
Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road riders will also see increases. Ticket prices will go up roughly 4 percent, depending on the line.
Drivers will not be spared. E-ZPass tolls are also going up 4 percent. And tolls for drivers who use cash will go up as much as 10 percent.
The price changes are due to take effect on March 22.
The MTA also faces a staggering, $15 billion shortfall in its five-year capital plan. The ambitious plan includes costs for the Second Ave. subway and a Metro-North connection to Penn Station.
The capital plan would also fund new subway cars and busses and would also pay for maintaining the existing infrastructure.
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