Proposed changes to MTA fares and tolls in 2025

This summer, the MTA Board is considering the following changes to fares, tolls, and ticketing policies, all to take effect in 2026.

Fares and tolls give the MTA resources to operate a safe and reliable transportation system that New Yorkers can count on. Fare and toll changes are small and occur at regular intervals to keep up with inflation and avoid surprising customers with unpredictable or double-digit increases.

The 2025 MTA Operating Budget, approved by the Board in December 2024, assumed a fare and toll increase would occur in March 2025. The MTA is delaying the fare and toll increase to January 2026 to align with the launch of full tap-and-go on subways and buses.

• The base fare for subways, local buses, and Access-A-Ride would increase 10 cents, from $2.90 to $3. The reduced fare would increase from $1.45 to $1.50. Learn more about the MTA Reduced-Fare program.
• The 7-day rolling fare cap would become permanent. Pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period and any additional rides are free. At the proposed base fare, no rider would pay more than $36 in a week. Reduced-fare customers would pay no more than $18 in a week.
• The express bus base fare would increase from $7 to $7.25. The reduced fare would increase from $3.50 to $3.60.
  • Because express buses travel greater distances than local buses and use the highway network to connect neighborhoods lacking transit access to Manhattan, New York City Transit provides coach buses and charges a higher fare than local buses.
• A fare cap would be added for customers who use the express bus network. Express bus riders would never pay more than $67 for unlimited express bus, local bus, and subway rides in any 7-day period.
• The Single Ride ticket would increase from $3.25 to $3.50.
• The fee for a new OMNY card would increase to $2 when the MetroCard is no longer accepted for fare payment later in 2026. OMNY cards are more durable and last for up to 5 years.
• No changes are proposed to discount policies for seniors, people with disabilities, students, and the Paratransit Zero Fare.

See proposed fare tables for New York City Transit.

• Monthly and weekly tickets would increase up to 4.5% across both railroads.
  • Even with this increase, monthly ticket prices would remain lower than they were pre-COVID and would not exceed $500.
• All other ticket types would increase up to 8%.
• Peak CityTicket would increase from $7 to $7.25 and Off-Peak CityTicket would increase from $5 to $5.25. This change would also apply to the Far Rockaway ticket.
  • All one-way tickets in the city zones would match CityTicket prices, so no customer would pay more than $7.25 in the peak or $5.25 in the off-peak for travel within New York City.
  • Peak CityTicket and Far Rockaway Ticket would become permanent fare products.
• The surcharge for tickets purchased onboard from a conductor would increase by $2. There would be an equivalent surcharge for tickets purchased onboard using the TrainTime app.

See proposed fare tables for LIRR.

See proposed fare tables for Metro-North.

Fare policies on subways and buses

A permanent 7-day rolling fare cap 

With tap-and-go, customers ride free after paying for 12 trips in any 7-day period. This guarantees they get the best subway and bus deal available, without the burden of pre-paying.

With fare capping available to all subway, local bus, and express bus customers, the 7-Day, 30-Day, and Express Bus Plus Unlimited Ride MetroCards will no longer be sold. Customers can still pre-load $36 for unlimited 7-day travel onto an OMNY card. Any unused funds will roll over— no more use-it-or-lose-it.

Tap-and-go would be required for all subway, local bus, and express bus rides

Cash and coins would continue to be accepted at card vending machines in subway stations and at one of the 2,700 local businesses that sell OMNY cards. Learn more about OMNY retail locations.

Ticketing policies on LIRR and Metro-North

The proposed policy changes described below simplify ticketing rules and speed up the fare-collection process. They would be adopted as a pilot program, subject to ongoing review.

No more ticket activation

All One-Way mobile tickets would auto-activate upon purchase, and the ticket would expire after four hours. Paper tickets would also expire four hours after purchase.  

More flexible ticket offerings

A new Day Pass for unlimited travel would replace the Round-Trip ticket. The Day Pass would be valid on the day of purchase until 4 a.m. the following day. On weekdays, the Day Pass would cost 10% less than two one-way peak tickets; on weekends, it would cost the same as two one-way off-peak tickets. Unlimited Day Passes are also available for CityTicket and Far Rockaway ticketholders, priced at $14.50 in the peak and $10.50 in the off-peak.

A new “pay-as-you-go” discount would be available for mobile customers. After 10 peak or off-peak trips in 14 days, mobile customers would get an 11th peak or off-peak one-way trip for free in the same 14-day period. Unlike today’s 10-Trip, which would be eliminated, this new fare product would not require customers to pre-pay for 10 tickets to receive a discount and introduces a new discount for 10-Trip peak customers.

Reduced fare is always available

A reduced fare product would be available all day, every day for seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients, even in the morning peak period.

Avoid the onboard surcharge

Customers who repeatedly purchase mobile tickets onboard would be subject to the surcharge after an escalating series of warnings.

• All toll rates would increase 7.5% at all facilities. This includes E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail.
• The existing toll discount programs for Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island residents would remain in effect. Learn more about Resident Rebate Programs.

See proposed Bridges and Tunnels tolls.