The MTA announced Wednesday that it is considering a fare hike and service cuts to close a projected deficit.

The transportation agency is dealing with fiscal issues after it says it is running out of its over $15 billion federal COVID relief funds.

The MTA say it is looking at a 5.5% increase in fares, which would be the highest since the MTA raised fares by 7% in 2013.

It may also put fewer cars on Long Island Rail Road trains and reduce weekday service.

Chairman of the LIRR Commuter Counsel Gerard Bringmann says ridership is around 65% from what it before the pandemic so the agency is not getting the revenues that they used to.

"What we're trying to do is keep it manageable and spread out the funds that we have and then in the interim try to come up with some sort reoccurring funding source that we know we can count on moving forward," Bringmann says

The LIRR is looking toward some "efficiencies" for trains with low ridership.

They could reduce the cars from 10 to eight, but they won't do it if it leaves commuters without seats.

No decision has been made regarding any schedule reductions

The MTA will vote on the fare increase sometime in February 2023.