MTA plans to increase subway and bus fares to $3 in January, delayed 6 months
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- This year's expected MTA subway and bus fare hike to $3 is delayed until January.
The base fare was supposed to increase next month. But, the transition to the new OMNY tap and pay system delayed the normal fare increase schedule.
"Because of the nature of the public process, and we're going to have the public process that we always do, it cannot and won't be in August. But we're going to initiate the public process, and it will happen, in all probability, sometime later in the year," said Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO.
Now, the base fare is expected to increase from $2.90 to $3 on Jan. 4, 2026, according to a financial plan discussed with the MTA board.
Fares on the OMNY system will be capped at $36 for a seven-day period, up from $34.
With a full transition to OMNY, the MTA announced it would also eliminate the 30-day unlimited fare option, making the seven-day fare cap the only way to get unlimited rides.
The MTA is also introducing a new unlimited weekly pass for express bus users once they spend $67 in a week. Express bus fares will increase from $7 to $7.25
As part of the normal fare hike schedule, commuter rail line tickets will increase 4.4% and tolls on bridges and tunnels will increase 7.5%.
The subway and bus fares last went up in 2023, when they rose from $2.75 to the current fare of $2.90. Fares normally increase every two years, but this year commuters are getting a six-month break.
Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection, released a statement saying he does not support the fare increases:
"Proposing a fare hike without demonstrating meaningful improvements is offensive to hard-working New Yorkers, and that's why I'm urging all board appointees to vote no on this proposal."
The frontrunner in the mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani has proposed free buses.
The fare increases are not yet finalized. There will be public hearing and a vote this fall.
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