Changes to MTA fares and tolls in 2025

On September 30, 2025, the MTA Board approved 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 will increase 10 cents, from $2.90 to $3. The reduced fare will increase from $1.45 to $1.50. Learn more about the MTA Reduced-Fare program.
• The automatic rolling 7-day fare cap for unlimited rides will become permanent. Pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period and any additional rides are free. At the base fare, no rider will pay more than $35 in a week. Reduced-fare customers will pay no more than $17.50 in a week.
• The express bus base fare will increase from $7 to $7.25. The reduced fare will 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 second automatic rolling fare cap for unlimited rides will be added for customers who use the express bus network. Express bus riders will never pay more than $67 for unlimited express bus, local bus, and subway rides in any 7-day period.
• The Single Ride ticket will increase from $3.25 to $3.50.
• The fee for a new OMNY card will 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.
• There will be no changes to discount policies for seniors, people with disabilities, students, and the Paratransit Zero Fare.

See fare tables for New York City Transit.

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

See fare tables for LIRR.

See 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 benefit of unlimited rides on subway and bus, 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 $35 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 will be required for all subway, local bus, and express bus rides

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

Ticketing policies on LIRR and Metro-North

The 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.

All one-way tickets are valid until 4 a.m.

All One-Way paper and mobile tickets will expire at 4 a.m. the day after purchase. For example, if a customer purchases a one-way ticket on Monday at 10 a.m., it will be valid until Tuesday at 4 a.m. Customers still need to activate tickets before boarding.

More flexible ticket offerings

A new Day Pass for unlimited travel will replace the Round-Trip ticket. The Day Pass will be valid on the day of purchase until 4 a.m. the following day. On weekdays, the Day Pass will cost 10% less than two one-way peak tickets; on weekends, it will 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 will be available for mobile customers. After 10 peak or off-peak trips in 14 days, mobile customers will get an 11th peak or off-peak one-way trip for free in the same 14-day period. Unlike today’s 10-Trip, which will be eliminated, this new fare product will 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 will be available all day, every day for seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients, even in the morning peak period.

More affordable trips for families

Children aged 5-17 will be able to ride for $1 each on the Family Fare when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, even in the morning peak. Now, families can travel together on the commuter railroads to school, sporting events, or recreational activities at a more affordable price.

Avoid the onboard surcharge

The surcharge for tickets purchased onboard, whether from a conductor or the TrainTime app, will increase by $2. Customers who repeatedly purchase or activate mobile tickets onboard will be subject to the surcharge after an escalating series of warnings.

• All toll rates will 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 will remain in effect. Learn more about Resident Rebate Programs.

See Bridges and Tunnels tolls.