MTA updates fare increase proposal, reducing weekly bus and subway fare hike by .

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced a revised fare-hike proposal following a significant period of public engagement. This decision comes as a response to an outpouring of community feedback regarding the initial fare increase plan. Under the new proposal, the cost for unlimited subway and bus rides over a seven-day period will be set at when utilizing the OMNY fare payment system. This represents a modest increase from the current fare of , while also being a dollar less than the originally proposed fare.

While the cost for an individual subway or bus ride is expected to rise to —up from the existing price of .90—there are plans to phase in these changes in January to align with the transition from the MetroCard system to an all-OMNY fare payment model by the end of the year.

Jessie Lazarus, the MTA’s deputy chief for commercial ventures, noted that the adjusted fare proposal stemmed from a robust public-comment period that generated four times more feedback than what was collected during last year’s fare discussions. The extensive outreach campaign included three large public meetings and 22 smaller gatherings across the MTA service region, ensuring that voices from various communities were heard.

In addition to the revised fare structure, the proposal also introduces an extension of the MTA’s family ticket policy on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North services. Currently, the family ticket allows up to four children under age 12 to travel for each, provided they are accompanied by a fare-paying adult. The new regulations would increase this age limit, allowing any child under 18 to ride for the same fare.

Further proposed increases include a 25-cent hike in express bus fares, bringing the total to .25, with a weekly cap of . On the LIRR and Metro-North, single ticket prices will see an average increase of 4.4%, which will similarly apply to monthly and weekly ticket prices. Additionally, the City Ticket, used for travel within New York City on commuter railways, will also increase by 25 cents for both peak and off-peak hours.

Farebox revenue contributes significantly to the MTA’s operating budget, accounting for approximately 25% of the annual funding necessary for operations, separate from the capital budget designated for large-scale improvements and funded partially by New York City’s congestion pricing tolls. The last fare increase occurred in 2023, when subway and bus fares rose from .75 to the current rate of .90. The transit agency’s board is expected to vote on these changes in the coming week, with the aim of finalizing the new fare structure ahead of the implementation date.

For further details on the upcoming changes, please refer to the MTA’s official website.