Proposed Changes to MTA Fares, Crossing Charges, and Related Policies

The MTA is currently engaged in its biennial process for the review of its fares, crossing charges, and related policies. The public was invited to comment on the changes proposed below until December 21, 2020. As to crossing charges only, public comment will continue to be accepted by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (MTA Bridges and Tunnels) until the close of business on February 16, 2021 in the manner indicated in the notice published in the December 16, 2020 New York State Register (see page 30).

The Boards of the MTA and its affiliated agencies will now consider the proposals and public comments and will decide which potential fare and crossing charge adjustments and policy changes to adopt.

Fares for Subway (NYCT), Local Bus (NYCT, MaBSTOA, and MTA Bus), and SIR:
Base Single Ride Fare (currently $3.00 for Single Ride Ticket, and $2.75 for cash payment and Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard®):

• Eliminate Single Ride Ticket option, or maintain current Single Ride Ticket option.
• Maintain the existing base fare for cash payment, Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard and/or Single Ride Ticket, or increase the base fare for cash payment and/or Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard by up to 25¢, and/or increase the base fare for Single Ride Ticket by up to $1.00.
• Eliminate on-board cash payment for single ride local bus fare, or maintain current cash payment option.

MetroCard Discount (currently not available):

• Maintain the current undiscounted base fare, or establish a reduced MetroCard fare reflecting a discount of up to 7% from the new base fare, for MetroCard purchases above an initial purchase threshold of up to $6.00 plus any applicable fee for purchase of a new MetroCard (the “green fee”).  

Fares for Express Bus (NYCT and MTA Bus):

• Maintain the current single ride express bus fare (currently $6.75), or increase the single ride express bus fare to up to $7.25.

Fares for Paratransit Services (currently $2.75):

• In the event that the Base Single Ride Fare for Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard is increased, increase New York City Access-A-Ride one-way fares by up to 25¢.

Walk-Up Reduced Fare:

• Eliminate option for eligible riders to show identification at ticket booth or on buses to obtain reduced fare (which would require riders to register for reduced fare benefit), or maintain the walk-up reduced fare option.

Discount Policies:

• Seniors/Customers with disabilities/Paratransit Zero Fare discount policies (except as otherwise noted) remain unchanged and will pertain to applicable fares as modified.

Monthly, Weekly, and Other Ticket Types

• Increase monthly ticket prices up to 4.3%. Increase weekly ticket prices up to 5.9%. Increase fares in an amount from 0% to 11.2% on all other ticket types (including but not limited to City Ticket and Atlantic Ticket), with any increase greater than 6% held to a maximum increase of $0.50 per trip.
• Alternatively, the Board may adopt a proposal to increase monthly ticket prices up to 4.3%, increase weekly ticket prices up to 5.9%, and increase fares in an amount from 0% to 16.7% on all other ticket types (including but not limited to City Ticket and Atlantic Ticket), but retain authority to offer revocable pilot programs or conduct field studies that provide discounts on some or all ticket types.

Other Fare and Policy Proposals:

• Special discounted fares, supplemental step-up, on-board fares, and ride extension fares may be subject to percentage increases higher than increases to base fares due to rounding.
• The new Elmont Station will be designated as an LIRR Zone 4 Station.
• Maintain current Mail & Ride Program distribution channels, or distribute Mail & Ride only through Mobile platform.
• Maintain current Mail & Ride discount for Joint Monthly Railroad Pass + Unlimited MetroCard (2%), or eliminate the Joint Monthly Railroad Pass + Unlimited MetroCard.

UniTicket and One-Way Connecting Fares:

• Increase weekly connecting fares for Hudson Rail Link by up to 50¢, for Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry by up to 50¢, and for Newburgh-Beacon Ferry by up to 25¢.
• Increase monthly connecting fares for Hudson Rail Link and Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry by up to $1.75, and for Newburgh-Beacon Ferry by up to 50¢.
• Increase weekly fare for connecting local NYC bus service (NYCT, MaBSTOA and MTA Bus) by up to 50¢, and monthly fare by up to $2.50.
• Increase one-way connecting fares for the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry and Newburg-Beacon Ferry by up to 25¢, increase one-way fare for Hudson Rail Link by up to 25¢, and increase Seniors/Customers with disabilities/Paratransit Zero Fare by up to 15¢.
• Increase weekly fare for Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) UniTicket by up to 75¢. Increase monthly fare for NICE UniTicket by as much $3.00.
• If NYCT time-based passes are eliminated, the proposal would be to eliminate corresponding monthly and/or weekly UniTickets.

• Increase crossing charges for passenger vehicles to as much as $6.70 for E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center (NYCSC) customers when using their properly mounted NYCSC E-ZPass tag.
• Different crossing charges will apply to non-NYCSC E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail customers, motorcycles, buses, and trucks, as well as to NYCSC E-ZPass customers when not using their properly mounted E-ZPass tag.