NEW YORK - The coronavirus outbreak is beginning to make the MTA's finances sick.

Plunging ridership is taking a bite out of revenues. Straphangers hope it doesn't lead to an even bigger fare hike than planned next year. 

"We just got it raised, on the fare, and the MTA is still hectic, still very busy and delays with the trains," said one straphanger.

"It's unacceptable. I don't think it's right," said another straphanger.

Fares and tolls at nine bridges and tunnels make up half of the MTA's $17 billion annual budget. 

The MTA raises fares every two years. The next one arrives in 2021 and it is supposed to generate more than $300 million annually.

But that was before coronavirus spread to New York, companies ordered employees to work from home and officials recommended that New Yorkers stay off crowded buses and trains if possible.

The lack of the mass in mass transit could be the new normal for months.

"The MTA's already been walking a tight rope with its budget," said Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany. "The fear is, there will be unplanned fare and toll increases."

The MTA says daily ridership on Wednesday fell nearly 19 percent.

Bus ridership is off 15 percent.

On Thursday, Long Island Rail Road was down 31 percent from a typical Thursday last year. Metro-North ridership is down nearly half.

There were fewer vehicles crossing MTA bridges and tunnels, as well.

It's a problem for transit agencies in the tri-state region.

At the same time, the MTA is spending more on its workforce who are now disinfecting stations twice a day and its entire fleet of cars every 72 hours.

"Both New Jersey Transit and the MTA are at moments of crisis even without coronavirus. We have seen that both agencies have real challenges on the operating budget side," said Tri-State Transportation Campaign Director Nick Sifuentes.

The problems will multiply if the coronavirus triggers a recession.

"The MTA receives its revenues through fares tolls and a lot of taxes, economically sensitive taxes," said Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein

That's why transit watch dogs say the MTA may need funding help from the federal government. The head of the MTA agrees.

"The federal government is going to have to step up for New York State, for New York City and for the MTA in terms of reimbursing us," said MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye.