MTA considers up to a 10% fare increase for Connecticut Metro-North riders.
Connecticut rail commuters could soon experience fare increases of up to 10%, pending approval from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) regarding a proposal from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT). The fare adjustments follow a month-long series of public hearings and are specifically targeted at trips originating or concluding at Connecticut stations on Metro-North’s New Haven Line.
The proposed fare adjustments include an initial 5% increase set to take effect on September 1, 2025. An optional second 5% increase could potentially be implemented in July 2026. Financial projections suggest these adjustments could generate approximately .4 million in 2025, escalating to million in 2026.
ConnDOT has a significant partnership with the MTA, particularly concerning the management of the New Haven Line. The agency oversees the majority of the railroad’s infrastructure and assets on the Connecticut side of the border. Notably, 65% of the rail cars operating on this line are owned by Connecticut, identifiable by a distinct red stripe, while the remaining cars are owned by New York and display a blue stripe.
Earlier this week, a committee associated with the MTA board, which includes members from both Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, voted to advance this fare hike proposal to a full board meeting scheduled for Wednesday. During the committee proceedings, member Neal Zuckerman expressed strong reservations about the fare increase, describing a 10% hike as offensive. He emphasized the board’s commitment over the years to maintaining predictable and low fare increases, raising concerns about the impact of such increases on commuters amid ongoing inflationary pressures.
Other committee members, including Midori Valdivia, echoed Zuckerman’s apprehensions regarding the proposed hikes. In contrast, committee member Gerard Bringmann cautioned against opposing the fare adjustments, questioning how the board could rebuff these increases while still planning a prospective 4% fare hike for 2025 across various commuter services, including the subway and buses.
The full MTA board is anticipated to vote on the fare increases during their upcoming meeting. As public transportation stakeholders continue to navigate the complexities of budgeting and service provisions, the potential fare hikes highlight the ongoing challenges for metro services in balancing operational costs with the financial burdens placed on commuters.
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