MTA board approves nearly 4 percent fare hike

The MTA board voted to approve hiking fares and tolls nearly 4 percent.

News 12 Staff

Feb 27, 2019, 4:51 PM

Updated 1,976 days ago

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MTA board approves nearly 4 percent fare hike
The MTA board on Wednesday voted to approve a maximum fare increase of 3.85 percent for the Long Island Rail Road.
The exact increase depends on where you live.
The base rate for a MetroCard is increasing, but the monthly cost is rising from $121 to $127.
The vote also means bus fares and bridge and tunnel tolls are increasing.
Mitch Pally, Long Island's only MTA board member, introduced a resolution Wednesday to temporarily defer for the commuter railroads, but it was quickly voted down.
Plenty of commuters took to Twitter to vent their frustrations with the fare hike, including one person who called it "a joke!!"
Mark Epstein, of the LIRR Commuter Council, says a nearly 4 percent hike is high "for a system that is not up to the standards it should be."
In response to commuter complaints, LIRR President Phillip Eng says he'll continue providing the best service the agency can and tackling commuters' issues.
The toll hikes go into effect on March 31; the fare increases on April 21.


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