MTA approves fare increases for NYC subways, buses, LIRR, and Metro-North, raising costs to for most services.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced a fare increase for subway and bus rides in New York City, set to take effect in early January 2025. Following an 11-0 vote by the MTA board, the cost for a single ride will rise from .90 to .00, marking a ten-cent increase. Additionally, the cap for the seven-day OMNY fare-payment system will be adjusted to .

Express bus fares are also affected, rising by 25 cents to .25, with a weekly cap of for riders using the OMNY system. These changes come as part of a broader fare adjustment that will see similar increases on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North commuter trains, where ticket prices will rise by an average of 4.4%, with some tickets increasing by up to 8%. Monthly and weekly ticket prices on these rail lines will also see a 4.5% increase, though this adjustment does not apply to New Jersey Transit services operating west of the Hudson River.

The City Ticket, which facilitates travel within New York City on the commuter rail systems, will see a peak time price hike of 25 cents, bringing the fare to .25, while off-peak fares will increase from to .25. This fare adjustment represents the first increase since 2023, when fares were raised from .75 to the current rate of .90.

This fare increase has been strategically timed to coincide with the gradual phasing out of the MetroCard system, as the MTA transitions to a more modern fare collection method through the OMNY system, which enables tap-to-pay options using smartphones and bank cards. Alongside the increase in ride prices, the MTA will also double the cost of refillable, standalone OMNY cards to from the previous price of .

Fares contribute significantly to the MTA’s annual operating budget, accounting for roughly 26% of its total funding. These funds are essential for covering payroll, healthcare, overtime, and other operational costs for the transit system, which provides round-the-clock service to millions of riders. It is important to note that the operating budget operates separately from the MTA’s five-year capital budget dedicated to major improvement and repair projects, which is partially underwritten by New York City’s congestion-pricing tolls.

As the MTA navigates these increases, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining and enhancing transit services in New York City. The decision reflects ongoing challenges related to funding and the need to ensure the system can sustainably serve the diverse needs of its riders.

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