MTA proposing fare hikes, toll increases and ticketing changes. How you can weigh in today

All three of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's public hearings are held hybrid, both in person at the New York City Transit Authority in Brooklyn and online.

Jonathan Gordon

•

Aug 19, 2025, 9:20 AM

•

Updated 2 hr ago

Share:

NTSB: Tire failure caused fatal 2023 crash of bus carrying Farmingdale students in Orange County

25ds ago

1:54

Leaders of 5 LIRR unions say strike could be on horizon

3ds ago

1:37

Parking changes coming today to downtown Babylon

15ds ago

2:00

Morning service impacted on Port Washington LIRR branch due to storm repairs

17ds ago

MTA proposes fare hikes for buses and rails

19ds ago

1:50

Turn to Tara: Avoid travel chaos by using credit card perks

22ds ago

1:48

NTSB: Tire failure caused fatal 2023 crash of bus carrying Farmingdale students in Orange County

25ds ago

Big changes could be coming for Long Island Rail Road commuters, but not before they have a chance to voice their thoughts.

Starting today, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is holding three public hearings on a series of proposed changes to its fares, tolls and ticketing procedures.

The hearings

The three hearings will take place in person at the New York City Transit Authority at 130 Livingston St., 1st Floor, in Downtown Brooklyn.

They are scheduled for today from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There is also a Zoom option for those who prefer to attend virtually and all the hearings will be livestreamed on the MTA website.

The proposals

The MTA board is considering several changes:

Monthly and weekly Long Island Rail Road tickets would increase by up to 4.5%
All other tickets would go up by up to 8%
All one-way mobile tickets would auto-activate as soon as you purchase them
All tickets, which are currently valid for up to 60 days, would expire after four hours
A new Day Pass for unlimited travel, valid from when you buy it to 4 a.m. the following day, would replace the Round-Trip ticket
A new "pay-as-you-go" discount would be available for mobile customers, where after 10 peak or off-peak trips in 14 days, you would get an 11th one-way trip for free
Customers who repeatedly purchase mobile tickets onboard would be subject to a surcharge after a series of warnings
All tolls would increase 7.5% including E-ZPass and tolls by mail
Existing toll discount programs for Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island residents would remain in effect

"Fares and tolls give the MTA resources to operate a safe and reliable transportation system that New Yorkers can count on," the MTA posted online regarding the potential changes. "Fare and toll changes are small and occur at regular intervals to keep up with inflation and avoid surprising customers with unpredictable or double-digit increases."

MTA officials said its 2025 operating budget, which the board approved last December, assumed a fare and toll increase would have taken effect in March 2025. Officials said they delayed the changes to next January to align with the launch of full tap-to-go on subways and buses.

Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Congestion Pricing revenue, which went into effect in January, is on track to reach $500 million this year.