MTA moves forward with budget that could increase fares and tolls
The MTA is moving forward with a budget plan that could include fare and toll hikes. It would potentially impact Metro-North riders in the Hudson Valley.
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The MTA is moving forward with a budget plan that could include fare and toll hikes. It would potentially impact Metro-North riders in the Hudson Valley.
"That's crazy, they shouldn't do that. I think inflation is like the No. 1 stressor as far as being a hard-working New Yorker," says Diovianne White, who frequently uses the Metro-North train to get to work in Yonkers.
It's part of the MTA's budget for 2025. Included in that nearly $20 billion is potential fare increases, as much as 4%.
"As was announced last July and then reaffirmed last month, and in keeping with the practice that has been in place since 2009 of modest inflation adjustments once every two years, the budget that the MTA Board adopted today assumes an inflation-adjustment fare update of approximately 4% would be implemented next year," says a spokesperson with the MTA.
Metro-North fares vary by type of ticket, distance traveled and time of the trip.
Officials with the MTA say details on what impact this new budget will have on specific tickets for Metro-North riders will be announced next year.
"Transit is one of the very few things that makes New York affordable. We're trying to make sure that little incremental fare increases that don't break anyone's pocketbooks are part of the picture," says MTA chair and CEO, Janno Lieber.
However, commuters say between this possibility and congestion pricing starting in January, they are not happy.
"I don't like that. Sometimes we do drive into the city but now I hear there will be tolls going in so trying to avoid that too," says Yonkers resident Amanda Santos.
Other riders don't mind coughing up the extra money, as long as they see it being used.
"New York is a very expensive place to live. Hopefully if they do increase it, we get some benefits from that like more rides, more time frames and cleaner trains," says frequent Metro-North rider Lisa Rumph.
These potential fare increases still need to go through a public comment period and get voted on by the MTA board. If everything moves forward, those hikes would go into effect next August.
