NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — If you plan on taking an MTA bus or subway in New York City anytime after Sunday, expect to pay a little bit more.
Subway and bus fares have officially gone up from $2.75 to $2.90. It is the first fare hike since 2019 and the first increase in the base subway and bus fare since 2015.
“Rather than having massive fare increases whenever the MTA hits a financial wall, we should have incremental and predictable, 2%-a-year fare increase. We’re going back to that, that’s predictable for our riders and it’s a small bite,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said.
Riders have reported that this “small bite” adds up, but for the MTA, this fare increase is worth approximately $305 million for the MTA.
“Of course they are are needed. The infrastructure needs a lot of extra money, but I don’t know how people are going to make it. It’ll be hard on them,” one MTA rider said.
NYC Transit, LIRR and Metro-North Railroad fares are going up 4%. On August 6, tolls on nine MTA bridges and tunnels went up an average of 5.5% and as much as 10% for those who don’t have E-Z Pass.
The MTA is also raising fares on express buses and monthly MetroCards.
Express bus fares are now $7, up from the current $6.75. And 7-day unlimited-ride MetroCards go to $34 from the current $33 while 30-day unlimited MetroCards go to $132 from the current $127.
The MTA says its seven-day “best fare” fare-cap will allow OMNY customers to start their seven-day fare capping period any day of the week.
Unlike the 7-day MetroCard, which requires an upfront $34 payment, the OMNY “best fare” initiative will give customers the financial flexibility to pay-as-they-go until they have spent $34 in any consecutive seven days, after which the cap will be in effect through the end of seven days.
7-Day Express Bus Plus MetroCards have risen to $64 from the current $62.
All discounts for seniors, reduced fares, will remain in place.
“You can get miles, and miles, and miles with all these systems. I love the MTA, I’m a fan. It doesn’t bother me at all,” one MTA rider said.
A vote last month put the MTA back on its schedule of fare and toll hikes every other year. The increases will generate $305 million in revenue and help with capital improvements and operating costs.
It comes after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget infused the MTA with more than a billion dollars in new funding. The agency says without it, the fare hikes would have been worse.
“Because we took action, we were able to stabilize the agency financially and we’re even increasing service,” Lieber said.
The MTA is also counting on additional revenue from congestion pricing, expected to start next year.
Source : WABC-TV
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