MTA board votes to pass fare increase, change ticketing policies
The changes will take effect on or about Jan. 4, 2026.
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In an 11-0 vote, with two members abstaining, the MTA board approved a package of changes Tuesday.
It is the first fare increase since 2023, with subways, buses and Access-A-Rides going from $2.90 up to $3.00 in early January.
"It is the minimal fare increase that we can implement just to keep us close to the realities of how our costs are increasing," said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.
While money from congestion pricing goes towards the MTA's capital budget, which pays for improvements and construction, they say this money is for the operating budget, with board member Neal Zuckerman telling his colleagues, "it is the responsibility of this board to meet the budget it passed."
Part of that operating budget includes salaries for workers, and Lieber says due to inflation and the cost of living, they need to give people wage increases.
"If we actually followed the rate of inflation over the last two years, we would be asking you for a 24-cent increase," added Jessie Lazarus, the MTA's deputy chief for commercial ventures.
What people pay will not be the only thing changing, but also how people pay.
The MTA says it will stop selling MetroCards, as it tries to convert the remaining 20% of riders who it says has not switched to the OMNY touch and pay system.
Lazarus acknowledges it will be a big change for some, but says "we are going to spend the next few months thinking every single day 'are our customers ready for this change? And have we done our job to help educate them?'"
Another change is that pre-paid unlimited weekly and monthly tickets will be replaced with a "pay as you go" program, where OMNY tracks how much riders spend each week, and makes all rides after $35 free, making a slight increase on the current $34 unlimited weekly ticket.
"This shift is a matter of equity," Lazarus said. "We want to delivery unlimited rides to our customers regardless of their ability to pre-pay."
Meanwhile, commuter rail riders should also expect a few changes.
Tickets purchased will now expire at 4 a.m. the next day, which the MTA says is being done to stop fare evaders who wait until the conductor is coming to activate, in hopes of avoiding paying.
Much like the unlimited weekly tickets, 10-day discount packs will also be replaced with a pay-as-you-go option, where after 10 one-way trips in a 14-day period, the 11th trip is free.
Lieber says that is being done to fit with the number of hybrid workers who now commute three to four days a week from the suburbs, instead of five.
Additionally, the "family fare" program, which allows up to four children to ride commuter rail lines for $1 each with a fare-paying adult, is being expanded, moving the cut-off age for children from 11 years old to 17.
