MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber on Thursday defended the MTA’s decision to increase tolls and fares, saying the new rates will help improve service for all New Yorkers.

The full MTA board on Wednesday approved the first increase in base subway and bus fares in eight years, raising the price by 15 cents and bringing the cost of a single ride to $2.90. The change is set to take effect Aug. 20.

During an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Thursday, Lieber noted the increase is part of a larger effort led by Gov. Kathy Hochul to address the financial challenges posed by the drop in ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is the last ingredient in a much bigger effort led by Governor Hochul to make sure that the MTA didn't go down the tubes because of COVID. We were looking at a $2 billion annual deficit brought on by the ridership drop post-COVID,” he said.

Lieber likened public transit to the lifeline of the city and stressed that New York's fares remain much cheaper than those in other cities like London.

To address concerns about affordability, the MTA has implemented various discounts, including the "Lucky 13" program, which offers free weekly rides after 13 trips. The MTA will also keep its “Fair Fares” program for low-income individuals.

Addressing fare evasion, Lieber said that the issue primarily arises from rule-breaking behavior rather than an inability to pay.

“I think that the issue that we're struggling with is not mostly people who can't pay, it's just that the rules are broken down a little bit during COVID and you see people taking their whole family through the gate for the exit. You see people walking up who have their OMNY open on their phone or their MetroCard in their hand, and all of a sudden, they see the gate open, and they go for it. So we're trying to discourage that behavior by closing down the gates a little bit,” he said.

Lieber also acknowledged the numerous requests for toll exemptions from various groups.

“Everybody has a good reason why paying a little more is doesn't make sense for them or they should be exempted. But the big picture – which came out yesterday at this board meeting – was that every one of those proposed discounts or exemptions end up raising the base toll for everybody else. And that's what we're trying to do: we're trying to make sure that the system is really fair and everybody who has to contribute, does, and then we have the lowest possible toll,” he said.