Commuters using Metro-North Railroad will face fare increases and sweeping ticketing changes beginning Sunday, following approval by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) last September.
Under the new pricing structure, monthly and weekly tickets will increase by 4.5 percent, while all other ticket types will see price hikes of up to 8 percent. MTA officials said the additional revenue is needed to support the agency’s operating budget, which covers day-to-day expenses such as system maintenance and employee salaries. While congestion pricing revenue is directed to the MTA’s capital budget for long-term improvements and construction, it cannot be used for operating costs.
In December, MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber defended the increases, noting that they remain below the rate of inflation. Lieber added that, in real terms, monthly tickets still cost less than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Significant changes to ticket rules also take effect Sunday. One-way and round-trip tickets are no longer valid for 60 days after purchase. Instead, one-way tickets will expire at 4:00 a.m. the day after they are bought. The MTA said the change is aimed at reducing fare evasion by riders who wait until a conductor approaches before activating their ticket. Passengers who attempt to do so may now face a $2 on-board surcharge.
Round-trip tickets will be eliminated and replaced with an unlimited day pass, valid until 4:00 a.m. the following day.
In addition, the Metro-North mobile app will introduce a fare-capping feature. Riders who purchase 10 one-way trips within a 14-day period will automatically receive the 11th trip free during that same timeframe.
The MTA says the combined changes are designed to modernize fare collection, improve compliance, and ensure stable funding to keep the region’s commuter rail system running reliably.
