The MTA Board approved on Wednesday a budget plan for 2025 that includes public transportation fare hikes and toll increases slated to take effect next summer.
The board unanimously voted to pass the plan during its monthly meeting on Dec. 18. The exact amount of the increases has yet to be announced but could go into effect in August 2025.
In recent years, the MTA approved 4% increases in fares and tolls. Should that trend continue, a base fare for a subway or bus trip would cost $3, up a dime from $2.90, come next summer, according to an article from ABC 7.
Meanwhile, during Wednesday’s meeting, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber boasted of “excellent service” and surging subway ridership.
“Last week, we set a new single-day record for subway ridership, 4.5 million customers,” he said. “Compare that to 2021, when this group began when the average weekday was less than half of that level.”
The most recent fare hike occurred in 2023, when the base NYC Transit fare was bumped up 15 cents, from $2.75 to $2.90. That marked the first such increase in eight years.
Despite the fare rise, Lieber remained optimistic and said the agency is coming out “on a high note” for 2024.
“I always look back at the goals we set at the beginning of the year, and when I took the chair a couple of years ago, priority one was recovering ridership to support the region’s comeback and also to help us achieve financial stability,” he said.
Lieber added that the MTA vowed to deliver “excellent” service to New Yorkers.
“And we also needed to keep the capital program on track to earn the public’s trust on how the MTA was going to spend money,” he said.
But New Yorkers whom amNewYork Metro talked to Wednesday after the budget vote did not hold back their opinions on the increase, some even calling it “straight-up greed.”
Others said they pay too much for too little service.
“This is absolutely outrageous. That last increase led to subpar service as it is,” said Roger Smith, an Upper West Side resident.
Carlos Rivera of Harlem questioned what the increases will actually support, as he is often stuck waiting for late trains and buses.
“I wish us New Yorkers could audit the MTA because this is absolutely ridiculous at this point,” he said. “Track maintenance and the trains and buses are never on time. Where is our money going?”
6 comments:
Transit should also be congestion proced. $10 at 7am or pm, $1 at 3am or pm
Another few billion dollars of taxpayer cash to the terrorist state of Israel should fix this.
Put back the old drum style turnstiles.
Every time I rode the subway in the past 3 years, I watch my ass and noted every homeless and a good 8 out of 10 blacks jump or squeeze threw these modern turnstiles. That's what the MTA is loosing billions.
Blacks believe they have a special privilege and don't care, its just a cheap ticket if you get caught.
They always say F- the police, fight & argue with law reinforcement, tell you "do you have something to say to me" if they see you watching them. That's because there are no consequences worth a crap !
That's fact, not racist and anybody who has rode the subway (millions including police, MTA bosses, past and present police commissioners, and the mayor himself) know it.
Why wont one dam politician or police boss admit it and fix the real problem properly?
-Zoe
So idiots like me who actually pay subway fare are going to be charged more to cover the many many many folks who just hop the turnstile. Sounds about right.
All this congestion taxing and fare increases on working class because the MTA, Albany and DAs refuse to enforce and lock up fare beaters.
And we al know who and what over 80% of those pieces of sh~t who call themselves the "entitled victims" are.
MTA loses a $ billion dollars a year and most the people doing this are black and brown.
Its all a unfair unjust socialist tax on honest hardworking people !!! Its also a scheme to force people to get rid of cars and ride the MTA with all the scum. .....risk your life!
Until New York allows me to carry a gun or 2: gives riders implied immunity self defense against lowlifes, nutters and street thugs no MTA for me.
F these communists! If Trump cant stop this people will simply buy a 2nd junky high milage smoggy cars for use in the city and parking outside of the tax zone.
I am NOT riding the subway or public bus and ending up with a $ 1 million dollars in legal bills like Danial Penny!
Congestion pricing is also going to run big business in Manhattan to Jersey or out of business when delivery and shipping costs triple.
Remember most your big delivery trucks have double tires, 2 or more axles.
The garment district and large stores like Macys will be the first to pack up and leave. Perhaps this is part of the plan, as in make those HUGE lofts and building housing?
-Joe
M oney
T aking
A gency
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