MTA Fare Hike Starts This Sunday

Hey remember when the MTA decided to increase public transit fares and tolls on bridges and tunnels? Yeah, that’s going into effect this Sunday, March 3. Here’s how it breaks down:

New fare rates for subways, buses, Staten Island Railway (SIR), and Access-A-Ride will go into effect at 12:01am on Sunday, March 3.

Base fare for subways, local buses, SIR, and Access-A-Ride rises to $2.50 from $2.25.

Base fare for express buses rises to $6 from $5.50.

Pay-per-ride bonus discount is reduced to 5% from 7%, but will now be available for adding as little as $5 onto a MetroCard (down from $10). Pat Kiernan has some handy tips on what amounts to put on a new or old card so you don’t have spare change left over. ($50 is the new magic number!)

A Single Ride Ticket purchased from MetroCard Vending Machines rises to $2.75from $2.50.

30-day unlimited-ride MetroCards will cost $112, up from $104.

7-day unlimited-ride MetroCards will cost $30, up from $29.

7-day express bus plus MetroCards will cost $55, up from $50.

Unlimited-ride MetroCards purchased on March 2 or earlier must be activated by Monday, March 11, to obtain full value. Those activated after that date will allow travel through April 9 for 30-day cards and March 17 for 7-day cards. Any remaining time will be refunded on a pro-rated basis.

A $1 fee will be charged for each new MetroCard purchased at a MetroCard Vending Machine or station booth. Customers can avoid this fee by keeping their MetroCard and refilling it at any vending machine or station booth. Customers turning in an expired or damaged card will be provided a new card at no charge.

MetroCards now can be refilled with any combination of unlimited-ride time and/or pay-per-ride dollars.

New toll rates on the seven bridges and two tunnels that are operated and maintained by the MTA will go into effect at 2am on Sunday, March 3.

At most crossings, tolls rise to $5.33 from $4.80 for E-ZPass customers and to $7.50from $6.50 for cash customers.

Photo via paulmmay