Long Island Rail Road commuters may soon see a fare hike and fewer trains in the near future.

News 12 has learned the MTA is weighing out options as it warns it may need to dial back spending.

The MTA is looking at a 5.5% increase in fares come next year - that would be the biggest jump we've seen in nearly 10 years.

The agency is facing financial issues after running out of its over $15 billion federal COVID-19 relief funds.

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.

"There are no easy solutions. The MTA has been in a rock and a hard place and we're just going to do the best that we can," says Bringmann.

The MTA is also considering reducing cars from 8 to 10, but they don't want to leave riders without seats.

The MTA Board will vote on the financial plan next month, but the decision on fare hikes might not come until February.