Politics & Government

MTA Votes to Approve 2013 Fare Hike

Subway, bus and LIRR fares will increase in March, as will bridge and tunnel tolls.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority board voted Wednesday morning to increase fares across the city's mass transit system, including subways, buses, LIRR trains and tolls.

Citing ongoing budget issues, rising pension costs and unexpected overruns as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the board approved a four-year capital plan on Wednesday that the transit giant hopes will allow it to balance its budget.

Fare hikes are as follows:

Find out what's happening in Bayside-Douglastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Base train and bus fare will rise to $2.50 from $2.25
  • Monthly Metrocards will go to $112 from $104. 
  • Weekly Metrocards will go to $30 from $29
  • The bonus fare ceiling on pay-per-ride cards will drop from $10 to $5, but the actual bonus will drop from 7 percent to 5 percent.
  • A $1 new card surcharge will be added to each card purchased to encourage riders to refill old cards. 
  • LIRR fares will increase between 8 and 10 percent. 

All fare increases and surcharges will start in March 2013. The fare hikes have been floated by the MTA since October.

In addition to the increased cost of mass transit, bridge and tunnel tolls will also be climbing.

Find out what's happening in Bayside-Douglastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Westbound cash users on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will now pay $15 to cross.
  • The cash toll will now be $7.50 at the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, RFK Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.


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