MTA, SIR, LIRR, Access-a-Ride Fares and Tolls Go Up

The subway fare started out at a nickel in 1904, and remained that way for 44 years. It finally broke the $1 mark in 1986, and the $2 mark in 2003.

Beginning on Sunday, March 3, at 12:01 a.m., the latest round of fare hikes was adopted, the third time in three years the MTA has raised its prices. The fare hikes are broad, including the subway, the Staten Island Railroad, the Long Island Railroad, MetroNorth, Access-A-Ride, and some tolls, and the introduction of a surcharge for purchasing a new MetroCard. The only way to get a free card now is to exchange a damaged or expired one at the fare booth.

The Bad News

Here are the details of these wide-ranging hikes:

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 $6.00 from $5.50.

The pay-per-ride bonus discount will be reduced to 5% from 7%, 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 has risen to $2.75 from $2.50.

The 30-day unlimited-ride MetroCard will cost $112, up from $104.

The 7-day unlimited-ride MetroCard will cost $30, up from $29.

The 7-day express bus plus MetroCard will cost $55, up from $50.

Unlimited-ride MetroCards purchased on March 2 or earlier must be activated by Monday, March 11, to obtain full value. Those activated after that date will allow travel through April 9 for 30-day cards and March 17 for 7-day cards. Any remaining time will be refunded on a pro-rated 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 MetroCards providing subway, bus and commuter rail service.

The MTA is taking great pains to point out that now, to offset the inconvenience and added expense of this surcharge, customers can refill a card with any combination of unlimited-ride time and/or pay-per-ride dollars. There are also exemptions for those who buy cards at out-of-system merchants or participate in the EasyPayXpress program or a pre-tax benefit program.

LIRR and Metro-North Railroad fares went up March 1 between eight and nine percent, depending on distance and ticket type.

On average, most commuter rail tickets have increased between 8.2% and 9.3%, depending on ticket type and distance traveled. The discounted CityTicket fare for one-way weekend travel within New York City has increased to $4.00 from $3.75, starting March 2.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels:

New toll rates on the seven bridges and two tunnels that are operated and maintained by the MTA rose at 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The MTA stated its need for additional revenue in its budget forecasts beginning in 2009. The proposed fare increases 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 December 19.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the March 4th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.