The latest round of MTA fare hikes has gone into effect.
The base fare for a single ride remains at $2.75, but the agency got rid of the 5-percent pay-per-ride bonus that commuters received. Weekly MetroCards increased by one dollar to $33, while a 30-day card rose to $127.
Fares on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North increased by an average of four percent. Tolls at the MTA’s bridges and tunnels went up a few weeks ago.
The fare hikes come on the heels of New York state lawmakers approving congestion pricing for Manhattan. The plan will charge drivers a fee to travel below 60th Street, with the revenue going towards fixing the subway system.
The plan has been met with protests from some state lawmakers and officials from New Jersey. They argue their constituents will be hurt by the added fee. For example, drivers in New Jersey using the George Washington Bridge and then traveling into midtown or Lower Manhattan could be forced to pay two different tolls.
A number of details for congestion pricing still need to be figured out, including the price of the toll and which drivers may be exempt from the fee.
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