The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has unveiled plans to raise subway and bus fares beginning in January 2026, alongside sweeping changes to how riders pay and how much they ultimately pay each week.
Under the proposal, the base fare for subways, local buses, and the Staten Island Railway would climb 10 cents, from $2.90 to $3.00.
A key feature of the new fare structure is the permanent 7-day rolling fare cap: after 12 rides in any seven-day span, further rides are free. Under the new fare, this means no rider pays more than $36 per week, while reduced-fare riders cap out at $18.
Express bus riders would see their fare rise 25 cents, from $7 to $7.25, and gain a similar weekly cap—no more than $67 for unlimited express bus, local bus, and subway rides in any seven-day period.
Commuter rails—Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North—are slated for fare increases as well: 4.4% on one-way, weekly, and monthly fares, with other ticket types seeing hikes up to 8%.
All nine MTA-operated bridges and tunnels would also see fare hikes of roughly 7.5% for both E-ZPass and Tolls-by-Mail users.
Ahead of a formal vote expected this fall, the MTA has scheduled public hearings:
- Tuesday, August 19th, from 6 pm – 9 pm
- Wednesday, August 20th, from 10 am to 1 pm
- Wednesday, August 20th, from 5 pm to 8 pm
New Yorkers can register to give comments at the public hearings here.
The MTA has also opened an online feedback portal.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber defended the proposed increases, noting that transit prices have risen only 16% since 2018, far outpaced by housing-cost gains of 68%, and stressed that these hikes are small, predictable, and necessary to fund daily operations. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams sharply criticized the proposal, calling it “offensive” to hardworking New Yorkers, particularly given the lack of service improvements.
While the subway fares continue to increase, New Yorkers across the city have documented on social media the crumbling infrastructure of the subways, with many lines being impacted by recent thunderstorms and crippling heatwaves. Common complaints include subway schedules, limited bus schedules, lack of consistent service in some areas, and public safety.
