MTA Fare Hikes Take Effect Mar. 3
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is reminding customers that fares and tolls will increase beginning this weekend.
According to the MTA, the need for additional revenue, which had been assumed in MTA budget forecasts beginning in 2009, was confirmed in July 2012. The MTA announced specific fare and toll increase proposals last October. The proposals were reviewed at a series of eight public hearings and four public video submission sessions held throughout the region in November.
The MTA Board adopted the increases on Dec. 19, 2012.
New York City Transit
New fare rates for subways, buses, Staten Island Railway (SIR) and Access-A-Ride will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. this Sunday, Mar. 3.
The base fare for subways, local buses, SIR and Access-A-Ride is rising to $2.50 from $2.25; the base fare for express buses is rising to $6 from $5.50. The pay-per-ride bonus discount will be reduced to five percent from seven percent but will now be available for adding as little as $5 onto a MetroCard, down from $10 previously.
A Single Ride Ticket purchased from MetroCard Vending Machines is rising to $2.75 from $2.50.
The 30-day unlimited-ride Metro- Card will cost $112, up from $104. The seven-day unlimited-ride Metro- Card will cost $30, up from $29. The 7-day express bus plus MetroCard will cost $55, up from $50.
Unlimited-ride MetroCards purchased on Saturday, Mar. 2 or earlier must be activated by Sunday, Mar. 10, to obtain full value. Those activated after that date will allow travel through Apr. 9 for 30-day cards and Mar. 17 for 7-day cards. Any remaining time will be refunded on a prorated basis.
A $1 fee will be charged for each new MetroCard purchased at a MetroCard Vending Machine or station booth. At commuter rail stations, the $1 card fee will be applied to MetroCards providing bus and/or subway travel only; the $1 fee will not be applied to Joint Rail Metro- Cards providing subway, bus and commuter rail service.
Customers can avoid this fee by keeping their MetroCard and refilling it at any vending machine or station booth. MetroCards now can be refilled with any combination of unlimited ride time and/or pay-per-ride dollars.
Customers turning in an expired or damaged card will be provided a new card at no charge.
There are also exemptions for those who buy cards at out-ofsystem merchants or participate in the EasyPayXpress program or a pretax benefit program.
More information about fares on subways, buses and SIR can be found at www.mta.info/nyct/fare/New- Fares.htm
LIRR & Metro North
New fares will go into effect on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North on Friday, Mar. 1, for monthly, one-way, round-trip, and 10-trip ticket holders.
For those using weekly tickets, which are always valid from Saturday through the following Friday, new fares take effect on Saturday, Mar. 2.
On average, most commuter rail tickets will increase between 8.2 percent and 9.3 percent, depending on ticket type and distance traveled. The discounted CityTicket fare for oneway weekend travel within New York City will rise to $4 from $3.75, starting
Mar. 2.
More information about fares on the Long Island Rail Road can be found at www.mta.info/lirr/about/ TicketInfo/LIRRFares.htm.
More information about fares on Metro-North Railroad can be found at www.mta.info/mnr/html/ fares_ new.htm.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
New toll rates on the seven bridges and two tunnels that are operated and maintained by the MTA will go into effect at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 3.
At most crossings, tolls are rising to $5.33 from $4.80 for E-ZPass customers and to $7.50 from $6.50 for cash customers.
