The MTA announced this week that subway fares and tolls will jump 4 percent over the next two years. File Photo
While it might be a modest escalation, get ready to pay more to travel in and out of the five boroughs.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority this week unveiled proposals to increase fares and tolls by 4 percent over the next two years.
According to the MTA, despite rising operational costs, the agency’s budget discipline and increased ridership allow it to limit fare and toll increases to the equivalent of 2 percent a year.
Two alternative subway and bus fare structures are being considered that treat the base fare and bonus structure differently, the MTA indicated on Monday. In the first proposal, the base fare increases by 25 cents, and the bonus amount is increased to 11 percent from 5 percent when putting $5.50 or more on a MetroCard. In the second proposal, the base fare for cash, Single Ride Tickets and Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards remains unchanged, but the bonus for putting $5 or more on a MetroCard is eliminated. In both proposals, the cost of a 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard increases by $4.50 and the cost of a 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard by $1.
The MTA proposes to increase car tolls for E-ZPass customers by 4 percent, which is equivalent to 21 cents at major crossings like the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel and Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. Approximately 71 percent of MTA Bridges and Tunnels crossings are made by cars with an E-ZPass.
For non E-ZPass customers, there are alternative toll structures are under consideration:In Proposal 1, truck tolls for E-ZPass customers would increase 4 percent. Car tolls would increase by 6.7 percent for cash, Tolls by Mail and non-E-ZPass customers. This proposal is consistent with MTA’s policy of increasing the differential price between E-ZPass and cash to encourage E-ZPass use, which reduces wait times on the crossings. Truck tolls paid with cash and non-E-ZPasses would increase by 6.4 percent.In Proposal 2, car tolls would remain at current levels for cash, Tolls by Mail and non-E-ZPass customers. Two-axle truck tolls for E-ZPass customers would increase 12 percent, which at major crossings is 77 cents more than in Proposal 1. Truck tolls paid with cash and non-NYCSC E-ZPasses would increase by 6.4 percent.
There will be one public hearing in each of the five boroughs. The Queens hearing is scheduled to take place on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at York College in Jamaica. The proposals will be voted on in January, 2015, with the hikes scheduled to take effect in March.
By Michael V. Cusenza
