On Wednesday, the MTA board voted to approve its $19.9 billion 2025 budget that assumes a 4% fare and toll increase.

“Eighty percent of our costs are people and pensions and health benefits,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “So there are small increases to those costs for our workforce and we have to deal with that just like everybody else. But 2% a year is pretty reasonable.”

What You Need To Know

  • The MTA has been raising fares by 4% every two years since 2009, except for 2021 in an attempt to lure riders back to the system after COVID

  • The MTA board would have to vote on any fare increase, which would be followed by public hearings then implemented in August

  • Fare revenue covers operating and labor expenses, which increase due to union contracts and benefits

But Lieber says the increase is not a done deal.

“Actions are needed from multiple levels of government for any fare increase to be effectuated. It is in our financial plan, but so are many standard hypotheticals,” Lieber said. “So all kinds of things can happen. There’s no question this governor is focused on affordability.”

The MTA has been raising fares about 4% almost every two years since 2009—except for 2021 amid the pandemic.

However, no subway rider is happy to hear subway and bus fares may rise to $3 come August.

“No. This is going to be crazy,” Kashoon Leesa, a college student, said. “Like if New York wasn’t expensive already.”

“I do not think that it’s worth it,” rider Marion Jackson said. “Not at all. Service is very bad and you don’t feel safe.”

“I do understand why. I mean, there [are] fare beaters, that’s one thing. There’s maintenance. I get it,” rider Anthony Graziano said. “But it’s just how much more can the average person take on a daily basis with everything going on and then this? It’s going to be tough.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul could nix the fare hike.

“I was able to push off a fare increase already. So believe me, when I know how to stop something, I do it. I will put that out there. There’s already a record of that. But I also know how to bring it back when I need to,” she said.

If Hochul doesn’t come to the rescue after the MTA board eventually votes on a fare increase next year, there will be public hearings, then the increase would take effect in August.