By Philip Newman
The MTA had discussed a $3 fare for the subways and buses, but in the end the board decided to keep the cost of a basic one-way ride at $2.75.
For motorists using E-ZPass the toll at the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge will climb by 22 cents to $5.76.
At its meeting Wednesday the MTA board voted to cut the bonuses for riders. The weekly unlimited MetroCard will increase by $1 to $32, while the popular monthly pass will rise by $4.50 to $121 from $116.50.
On the Long Island Rail Road fares will increase by about 4 percent. The fare hikes go into effect March 19.
There has been pressure from some advocates to give discounts to the city’s poorest residents, but no action was taken on this front.
“The MTA is focused on keeping our fares affordable for low-income riders and frequent riders and on how we can keep necessary scheduled increases as small and as predictable as possible,” said MTA Chairman Thomas Pendergast. “Keeping fares and tolls down was possible because of the continued operational efficiencies and ways we have reduced costs while adding service and capacity along our busiest corridors — most recently with the opening of the new Second Avenue subway.
This was the third fare increase within the last four years. In 2013 the base fare for subway and bus riders went up by 25 cents to $2.50 and rose another quarter to $2.75 in 2015.
