MTA's Proposes Four Fare-Hike Options

A monthly MetroCard could soon cost as much as $125, under one of four fare-hike plans the MTA is proposing, according to the New York Daily News.

The proposal would also up the price of unlimited-ride weekly cards to $34, and reduce the pay-per-ride bonus on MetroCards as well – but it would still leave the base subway and bus fare unchanged at $2.25.

 “If these higher fares go through, there will have been four subway and bus fare hikes in five years,” Gene Russianoff, of the Straphangers Campaign, told the paper. “It is time for Gov. Cuomo and the state Legislature to come to the rescue and find new transit aid.”

The MTA has prepared four fare-hike proposals for a series of public hearings set for next month, with the goal of generating $232 million in additional revenue for the agency.

Two proposals would keep the base fare at $2.25, while one would reduce the pay-per-ride MetroCard bonus from 7 percent to 5 percent, charge $34 for the weekly unlimited card and $125 for the monthly card. The second proposal would cut the 7 percent MetroCard bonus altogether, increase the weekly MetroCard to $32 and the monthly card to $119.

Two other proposals would raise the base fare to $2.50, along with hikes for unlimited cards, according to the paper.

MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota and transit officials maintain that the MTA needs more money because of so-called “uncontrollable costs” like pensions, which are set by the state Legislature.