Subway Fares in New York City Will Increase on Aug. 20

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Residents, commuters, and travelers should prepare for public transit fare increases in New York City. Find out how much more you’ll pay beginning later this month. 

Many New York City residents use the city’s public transit system to get around. If you live in or plan to visit the Big Apple soon, you should know that transit price increases are coming this month. On Aug. 20, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway, bus, and commuter railroad fares will rise. This change will impact the checking accounts of residents, commuters, and travelers. Here’s what you need to know so you can budget accordingly.

Expect these New York City Transit increases

The following price increases will impact those who use New York City Transit:

The base fare for the subway, local buses, and paratransit will rise from $2.75 to $2.90.The 7-Day Unlimited Ride pass will increase from $33 to $34.The 30-Day Unlimited Ride pass will increase from $127 to $132.The Express Bus Plus pass will rise from $62 to $64.Discount program benefits for students, seniors, and Paratransit customers won’t change.Those who purchase a 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited Ride pass at the current care must begin using it by Aug. 27 or request a refund and buy a new pass at the new rate.

Expect these Long Island Railroad and Metro-North fare changes

These price changes will impact Long Island Railroad (LRR) and Metro-North Railroad riders:

Monthly and weekly tickets will increase by up to 4.5% across both railroads.Monthly ticket fares will not exceed $500.The discount for traveling off-peak will be standardized to 26% across all railroads.There will be no fare increase for any ticket type on the Metro-North Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines.All other ticket types will increase by as much as 10%. However, any ticket increase greater than 6% will be held to a maximum increase of $0.50 per trip.LIRR and Metro-North will continue offering UniTicket fares to travel on commuter rail and connecting bus and ferry services. These fare changes will be based in part on changes to weekly and monthly transit fares, and one-way tickets for MTA-managed connecting services will also change.All tickets purchased at the old fare will remain valid through their stated expiration dates.Monthly tickets at the new fare will go on sale on Aug. 25 for September, and weekly tickets at the new fare will go on sale on Aug. 23 for the week of Aug. 26 through Sept. 1.

What you need to know about fare pilot changes

The MTA is implementing new fare pilots and will change some existing ones.

Here’s what to expect:

OMNY

Your first tap starts a new 7-day cap. If you spend $34 (or $17 for reduced-fare customers) within seven days, you’ll ride free for the rest of the week. If you spend less, you’ll only pay for the rides you take. Your cap will reset every seven days. Group trips, express bus taps, and transfers don’t count toward your weekly cap.

More CityTicket pilot options

CityTickets customers pay a $5 flat-fare ticket to travel within NYC limits during off-peak hours. MTA will now introduce a Peak CityTicket for travel during weekday peak hours for $7.

Atlantic Ticket and 20-Trip Peak Ticket pilots are being discontinued

The $5 One-Way Atlantic Ticket and $60 Weekly Atlantic ticket will be discontinued. The 20-Trip Peak ticket will be discontinued as travel patterns return to normal post-COVID.

Tips to spend less on public transit

Whether you live in the Big Apple or not, you may be looking for ways to save money on public transit costs. Here are a few tips to help keep your costs to a minimum:

Don’t forget about discount programs: You may qualify for reduced fare prices if you’re a senior, a student, a person with a disability, or are in a low-income bracket.

Buy unlimited ride passes: Instead of paying per ride, do the math to see if you can save money by purchasing an unlimited weekly or monthly ride pass. While you’ll have to pay more upfront, you could save money in the long run.

Kids may ride free: Some public transportation systems allow kids to ride for free. If not, kids may qualify for reduced-fare prices. Review fare policies so you don’t overpay.

Before you swipe your credit card for your next subway or bus ride, consider whether there are strategic ways to save money on public transit costs. Looking for more ways to save money? Check out our personal finance resources for additional tips.

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