New York City Subway Fares Increased to $2.90 in August | New York

subway fare new york Citi will officially raise prices from $2.75 to $2.90 next month as transportation costs rise in several U.S. cities.

The New York City Transportation Authority (MTA) board of directors voted at a meeting Wednesday to raise the base fare for subways and buses to $2.90 by late August. The New York Times reported.

It is the first time in eight years that the base fare of the country’s largest public transport system will be raised as the state-owned company weathers declining passenger numbers and financial instability.

The latest base fare increase was announced in May, when the MTA board submitted a proposal aimed at increasing revenue by 4%. New York Daily News reported.

In 2020, the number of transit riders decreased by 90%. Bloomberg News reported. Passenger numbers have risen steadily to pre-pandemic averages, but the MTA is still saddled with billions of dollars in debt. Expected to reach $52.7 billion by 2028.

As of May 2023, the nation’s eight largest transportation systems face a total budget shortfall of approximately $6.6 billion through fiscal 2026. Bloomberg reported.

Several U.S. cities are proposing or implementing fair price hikes on public transit to increase lost revenue due to reduced commuting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Washington Post reported.

Fares for San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) are set to rise 11% over two years to weather the transit system’s budget shortfalls caused by the pandemic’s drop in ridership. SF Gate reported.

Washington, D.C.’s Metrorail, the country’s third-largest rail network, approved a fare increase in April. The base fare for the transit system has been reduced from $2.25 to $2 he, but the fares for long-distance travel on the subway system have increased even more. NBC Washington reported.

Meanwhile, other cities have abolished fares and offered free transportation to all passengers regardless of income. in Kansas City, Bus free until 2023.boston is Experimenting with similar effortsabolish fares on some bus routes.

In New York, the social media reaction to the announcement was fierce, with users blaming the increase. 1 user I got it Higher fares mean more daily commuting costs. “It’s only $6 to and from work!”

Other users said they saw no improvement in the MTA’s transportation system. Installation of air conditioner On train platforms, despite the rising cost of use.

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“Is the extra $0.15 a surcharge for an extra rat?” tweeted 1 user.

Danny Pearlstein, Policy and Communications Director at Riders Alliancesaid fare hikes aren’t necessarily surprising in New York state, given the rising costs of many goods and services. The increase was also foreseen in the New York state budget, he added.

But Pearlstein said he still sees an increase in passengers, especially low-income passengers.

“For New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet, that’s no relief,” said Pearlstein, an organization campaigning for expansion in New York City. fair fare programan initiative to provide transportation subsidies to low-income New Yorkers.

“We are asking Mayor Adams to expand eligibility wherever possible to maximize investments in New York City’s transportation capital,” he said.