Reminder: MTA Fare Hike Goes Into Effect This Sunday

Happy Easter!

The MTA is raising fares this weekend, again, despite Governor Andrew Cuomo's campaign pledge not to hike rates until the subway got its act together (it has not).

Starting on Sunday, the price of a weekly MetroCard will increase to $33, while a monthly pass will jump from $121 to $127. The hike will not impact the $2.75 base fare, though it will do away with the bonus savings commuters previously reaped when paying for more than two trips. Tolls on most MTA bridges and tunnels will also see an increase of about 36 cents.

While some MTA board members had attempted to tie any price jump to improved subway and bus performance, those pleas were ultimately overruled. “This is painful for a lot of people, but it wasn’t exactly a mugging," former MTA Chairman Freddy Ferrer told reporters following the vote in February. Indeed, it could always get worse.

For now, the important thing is that we all do our part to pull the MTA out of its $60 billion hole. Congestion pricing will accomplish even more of the heavy lifting—if we let it—and those promised transparency reforms are no doubt right around the corner. And while it may not feel like it, you're likely already saving tens of seconds on your daily commute, thanks to the $800 million Subway Action Plan.

In other words, things are looking up for us commuters, somewhat, even if we'll soon have to pay a bit more for the chance to ride. Surely the man in charge of the subway isn't about to squander all of that good will over some petty personality clash. Right?

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