MTA Approves Subway Fare Jump Amid Public Outcry

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted Tuesday to raise subway fares to $3, beginning in January.

Every member of the MTA board approved hiking fares from $2.90. At the same time, riders will face higher costs on the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and MTA-owned bridges and tunnels.

The fare increase comes as a transit researcher noted that the agency could avoid raising fares if officials cracked down on fare evasion, which costs the authority up to $1 billion annually, according to a recent watchdog report.

Transit agency CEO Janno Lieber described the adjustment as “modest fare increases,” while MTA board member Neal Zuckerman argued that the hike shouldn’t be labeled as such because it still falls below the inflation New Yorkers have endured over the past three years.

“This is not a hike, ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry,” Zuckerman said, noting his role as managing director at The Boston Consulting Group. “That is modest.”

However, MTA board member Melva Miller acknowledged that the increase could impact commuters’ budgets.

“I’m struggling with this decision,” Miller said at the meeting. “For many New Yorkers that 10 cents might not sound like a lot yet for someone balancing child care costs, rent, housing, all the other sort of affordability, utilities and other rising costs living in New York City, that can dive them into impossible choices.”

While the MTA moves forward with the fare increase, it has already collected $449.4 million from congestion pricing through August but continues to lose as much as $1 billion annually to fare and toll evasion.

Lieber stressed that despite the fact that travelers will be paying more in both cases, it was not accurate to link the fare hike with congestion pricing revenues, which are dedicated to the agency’s long-term construction projects.

“I think you know the difference between our capital program, which congestion pricing goes to and our operating budget,” Lieber said.