New round of MTA fare and toll hikes now in effect
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A reminder for riders and drivers: Monday marks the first weekday commute since a new round of MTA fare and toll hikes took effect.
The cost of a single ride will stay $2.75, but monthly MetroCards went up to $121 from $116.50. Weekly cards increase by $1 to $32, while the 7-Day Express Bus Plus card increases to $59.50.
As for the tolls, E-ZPass rates go up by less than 25 cents.
If you pay cash, you are looking at more than a 6% hike and up to 9%, depending on the crossing.
The MTA has adhered to a schedule of biennial fare increases since 2009.
In 2013, the MTA reduced the planned hikes to 4% from the original 7.5%.
"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," MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said. "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."
Members of the Fair Fares coalition held a rally outside of Barclays Center Sunday to call on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to ease the burden for low-income New Yorkers by including funding for half-priced MetroCards in the city's 2018 budget.
