NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The MTA unanimously approved across-the-board hikes on subway, bus and commuter rail fares, as well as toll increases at bridge and tunnel, during a board meeting Wednesday.
The base fare for the subway and buses will rise from $2.75 to $2.90 under the plan, while a single-ride ticket will be $3.25.
Seven-day passes will increase from $33 to $34, while 30-day passes will rise from $127 to $132.
Express bus fare will go from $6.75 to $7 and seven-day express bus unlimited rides will climb from $62.00 to $64.00.
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North will see monthly ticket increases of about 4%. Daily tickets won't see increases above 50 cents, the MTA said.
Additionally, tolls will increase 6% for E-ZPass users at MTA-owned bridges and tunnels like the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Bronx–Whitestone Bridge and Queens–Midtown Tunnel. Drivers paying by mail will see increases of 10%.
The hikes are set to kick in on Aug. 20, 2023.
The money will go to fund operational costs and avoid service cuts, according to the MTA, which posted a message to its website that says, "Fare and toll revenue is critical to the MTA’s ability to operate a safe and reliable transportation system in New York."
"After a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the MTA is resuming its practice of adopting fare and toll increases every other year — a modest and predictable increase that helps to keep up with inflation," the message continues.
The board's unanimous vote followed four hybrid public hearings on the hikes.
At another meeting Wednesday, MTA officials were discussing the congestion pricing plan to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
The MTA Traffic Mobility Review Board will determine the prices, as well as any credits or exemptions for drivers under the plan, which has already been approved and will take effect as soon as the spring of 2024.
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