New York City's subway and bus fares are set to rise to $3 per ride on Sunday, marking a decade since the last fare hike in 2023. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has carefully navigated increasing costs and inflation to avoid raising the cost of a single ride to an even three dollars, opting instead for strategic adjustments to unlimited ride passes.
For years, the MTA has sidestepped a $0.10 increase by modifying its pass prices in 2017, when it maintained the cost of a single ride at $2.75 while boosting the price of unlimited ride passes to make up the difference. Transit officials had also reduced bonuses for users loading cash onto their MetroCard fare cards and paused plans for a subsequent fare hike under Governor Kathy Hochul's administration following the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, this time around, the MTA is forced to implement the 4% increase due to mounting operating costs. As the agency completes its transition to the OMNY system, it is abandoning the popular 30-day unlimited passes and introducing new weekly unlimited pass options with a price tag of $35 within seven days of initial use. Riders must tap in 12 times before riding for free.
A new surcharge fee for purchasing an OMNY card will also be introduced, rising from $1 to $2 – although this change won't take effect until later in 2026.
For express bus commuters traveling long distances across the city, the fare increase translates to a 25-cent rise. Reduced-fare riders can expect to pay $3.60 per ride on these routes.
Meanwhile, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuters will be subject to new rules requiring them to activate their tickets using their smartphones before boarding trains. Failure to comply may result in an $8 fine.
On the roads, drivers facing a 7.5% toll hike on nine bridges and tunnels, including the notorious Queens-Midtown Tunnel with its EZPass fees, will see increased costs of up to $7.46 for cars entering via this route.
For years, the MTA has sidestepped a $0.10 increase by modifying its pass prices in 2017, when it maintained the cost of a single ride at $2.75 while boosting the price of unlimited ride passes to make up the difference. Transit officials had also reduced bonuses for users loading cash onto their MetroCard fare cards and paused plans for a subsequent fare hike under Governor Kathy Hochul's administration following the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, this time around, the MTA is forced to implement the 4% increase due to mounting operating costs. As the agency completes its transition to the OMNY system, it is abandoning the popular 30-day unlimited passes and introducing new weekly unlimited pass options with a price tag of $35 within seven days of initial use. Riders must tap in 12 times before riding for free.
A new surcharge fee for purchasing an OMNY card will also be introduced, rising from $1 to $2 – although this change won't take effect until later in 2026.
For express bus commuters traveling long distances across the city, the fare increase translates to a 25-cent rise. Reduced-fare riders can expect to pay $3.60 per ride on these routes.
Meanwhile, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuters will be subject to new rules requiring them to activate their tickets using their smartphones before boarding trains. Failure to comply may result in an $8 fine.
On the roads, drivers facing a 7.5% toll hike on nine bridges and tunnels, including the notorious Queens-Midtown Tunnel with its EZPass fees, will see increased costs of up to $7.46 for cars entering via this route.
. They're already dealing with inflation and rising living costs, now they gotta worry about increasing subway fares? The MTA should at least consider implementing more affordable payment options like a monthly unlimited pass that's not too pricey 
. I don't get why they had to make the weekly unlimited passes so expensive - it just seems like a ploy to get people to shell out even more cash 
.
. MTA tryin' to make up lost revenue from unlimited pass prices bein' cut, but it's still gonna hurt some riders 
. That new OMNY card fee is a no-go 
and weekly unlimited passes are just $35 now? Ridin' the rails might get more expensive for many 
i remember when they last raised the price back in 2023, and now it's a decade later... i'm all about being prepared, so i always buy my metrocard with a little extra cash just in case, but this is getting ridiculous 
. And now we're stuck with the new weekly unlimited pass options? $35 is outta control! 
I swear, it's like they want us to pay more and more just to ride their trains. But hey, at least the OMNY system is getting a upgrade... for now 
. The whole thing feels like just one big cycle of price hikes – when's it gonna stop? 
... it's like they're charging us for breathing or something 
. long island commuters are gonna be stuck paying an extra 25 cents for those express bus fares though, that's just cruel 
.
I'm not gonna lie, another fare hike in NYC's transit system isn't exactly what I'd call a silver lining... but let's look on the bright side! 
The MTA is trying to adapt to rising costs and inflation, which is something we should all be supportive of. And hey, if they're making it more difficult for people to take advantage of unlimited ride passes by introducing new rules (like that 12-tap thing... yeah, it's a bit of a bummer), maybe that'll encourage people to opt for the OMNY weekly passes? 
It might even be an incentive for them to switch from cash loading to card payments! 
. I think $35 for a weekly unlimited pass is pretty steep though 
The price increase is gonna be a real bummer for people who can't afford it 
! Like, I get it, costs go up and all that jazz, but can't the MTA just find ways to make more money without messing with us riders? I mean, who thought it was a good idea to introduce new weekly passes with some crazy 12-tap rule before you're free? 
.
subway fare increase is not gonna go down well with most ppl here in nyc... people r already strugglin' w/ rent & stuff, and addin a $3 fee per ride just gets me worried