MTA proposes fare hikes for buses and rails and changes to ticket collection
The average Metro-North fare would increase by 4.4% if the board approves the plan.
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Fare hikes from the MTA are now just one of several worries from commuters. Now, concerns are sparking about proposed changes to the mobile app.
The average Metro-North fare would increase by 4.4% if the board approves the plan.
The MTA is also proposing bridge and tunnel tolls to increase by 7.5%.
Commuters from Yonkers say this could have big effects on Metro-North riders.
“That's just unfair, because everything is going up," says Ray, a commuter.
“I'm not happy that the prices are going up," says Nicole Randall, a commuter. “It's going to make a whole lot of people’s lives difficult, especially those that do buy one-way tickets because they can't afford monthlies.”
The MTA is also proposing changes to ticketing policies.
Under this proposal, all one-way mobile tickets would activate automatically when purchased and would expire after four hours. This would also be the case for paper tickets.
The MTA says it’s to prevent people from activating their ticket when the conductor comes or getting a free ride.
"Buy your ticket, just like you would in the old days, you walk out into the station, you buy your ticket. If you have a monthly, you don’t buy a ticket," says MTA CEO Janno Lieber.
There would be consequences for those who don’t comply.
"Like the old days, you’ll pay a significant surcharge on the train," says Lieber.
Commuters who use the app to buy tickets say this would be a big change.
“I think they should reconsider, especially if you are buying a one way for another person," says Randall.
It still needs to be voted on by the MTA board in the fall.
If it’s approved, the changes would start in January.
