Bus and subway riders' wallets may be a little lighter come next year.
During the MTA's monthly board meeting Wednesday, the agency released its preliminary 2017 budget and four-year financial plan, one which will continue the pattern of fare and toll hikes every two years.
The last set of hikes went into effect in March 2015.
"We continue to project fare and toll increases to be held at 4 percent in 2017 and 2019. Again, approximately 2 percent a year," said MTA Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran.
"It's a projected - as it has been for the past four years - a projected fare and toll increase as part of our financial plan. That's different from, 'Yes, we're going to have a fare increase,'" said MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast.
This would be the agency's fifth fare increase since 2009.
The MTA board will and hold series of public meetings before voting to approve the fare and toll increase.
A vote is expected in December.