NEW YORK — The MTA began rolling out new “flexible” fare offerings for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad riders as part of a pilot program on Friday — and will do the same for OMNY users on Monday. 

LIRR and Metro-North riders can now buy a monthly unlimited pass at a 10% discount, the MTA said in a press release.

As an alternative, riders can purchase a new 20-trip ticket that saves them 20% on regular peak fares via the MTA eTix app, the release said. Those tickets will be available at staffed ticket windows on Tuesday, the release said.

The MTA on Friday also extended its CityTicket program — which allows LIRR and Metro-North customers traveling within New York City to buy reduced, flat fare tickets on weekends — to weekday, off-peak trains. Each ride will cost $5, the MTA said. 

Peak fares are set to return on Tuesday, the agency noted. The LIRR suspended peak pricing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York City Transit, meanwhile, is launching a fare capping pilot program on Monday that will allow subway, local bus and Staten Island Railway riders using the OMNY tap-and-go system to avoid having to decide whether or not to buy a seven-day unlimited-ride MetroCard. 

Each Monday through Sunday, OMNY users who have already purchased 12 rides for $2.75 each — the equivalent of a $33 unlimited MetroCard — will be able to commute for free the rest of the week, the MTA said in its release. 

Starting Tuesday, March 1, peak fares will resume on peak LIRR trains. We’re also launching new, discounted ways to pay your fare! Monthly ticketholders will receive 10% off the March 2022 monthly ticket. The March monthly is available for purchase starting today, 2/25.

— LIRR. Wear a Mask. (@LIRR) February 25, 2022

The MTA will continue to offer free transfers between subways and buses as part of the program, but a two-part trip will only count as one trip toward the 12 trips needed to ride free each week, the release noted. 

All of the new fare offerings will remain in effect “for at least four months,” according to the release. 

“Bringing riders back to mass transit depends on three variables — reliability, safety and price. We’ve made it a priority to get creative on fares,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. 

“Transit affordability is also an equity issue, and we are committed to providing a wide range of new discounts, while ensuring the MTA maintains a solid bottom line,” Lieber added. 

The MTA may extend the pilot program or make it permanent if it “proves successful,” the release said.