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MTA hearings begin on proposed fare and toll hikes

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 16:15 GMT by News 12 Networks
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MTA Fare‑and‑Toll Hike Hearings Begin: What It Means for New Yorkers

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is poised to make a historic decision on Tuesday morning at the newly scheduled hearings that will set the tone for the next three years of commuting in the New York metropolitan area. After months of internal debates, a public forum has finally opened, inviting riders, community groups, and public officials to weigh in on a proposed 13% hike in subway and bus fares, a jump in tolls for the iconic Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, and a new surcharge for high‑speed rail riders. The hearings, held at the MTA’s headquarters in Queens, will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a short break for lunch, and will be streamed live on the MTA’s website (see the MTA Hearings page linked below for full details).

The Numbers on the Table

At the core of the MTA’s proposal is a 13.5% increase in the base fare for all local subway and bus riders, from $2.75 to $3.13. The agency argues that the price change is “necessary” to cover a projected $2.8 billion annual shortfall that stems from a lingering decline in revenue caused by the pandemic, ongoing infrastructure repairs, and a 7% drop in ridership that was last seen before the 1918 flu pandemic. The MTA board will also discuss a 5% hike in the “Metro‑Card” surcharge for riders using a Metro‑Card on an off‑peak day, moving the charge from $0.30 to $0.32. For the first time in over a decade, the agency is proposing a modest fare increase for the commuter rail lines that serve Long Island and Westchester – an $0.25 hike on the LIRR’s weekday peak‑hour fare, from $6.80 to $7.05.

In addition to fare changes, the MTA will present a new toll structure for the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge. The proposal adds a 20% surcharge on the current toll of $2.50 for private vehicles, taking it up to $3.00. “It’s a small price for a safe, reliable bridge system that’s been aging for generations,” says MTA Commissioner David H. Mott. The proposed toll hike will generate an estimated $300 million per year, earmarked for bridge maintenance, bridge‑bridge traffic monitoring, and an expansion of the bicycle and pedestrian lanes that were recently installed.

The Hearing Schedule

The hearings will be broken up into two main sessions. In the first half‑day, community stakeholders will present their positions on fare hikes. In the second half‑day, a panel of transportation experts will outline the MTA’s financial projections and the rationale behind toll changes. A short intermission will allow MTA staff to field questions from the public. At the end of the day, a voting procedure will take place, and the MTA board will vote on whether to adopt the proposed changes. The board will also consider alternate measures, such as a “fare‑adjustment” formula tied to inflation, or a “tiered” fare system based on riders’ incomes.

Voices in the Room

During the opening remarks, the MTA’s Director of Rider Services, Marsha R. Lee, explained that “the proposed increase is the most modest change in over 30 years. We have made a concerted effort to keep the fare rise to a level that is still affordable for the majority of our riders.” She highlighted that the MTA’s new funding model would allow the agency to finish $7 billion worth of critical tunnel repairs in the coming years.

Opposition came from several community leaders and advocacy groups. “We’ve seen the tolls rise in other cities, and we’ve seen ridership fall,” said Marla Rivera, a resident of Bay Ridge and founder of the Bay Ridge Neighborhood Association. She noted that many riders already pay “double the cost of a bus fare” for a single cross‑bridge trip. Rivera called for a “sustainable, public‑transit‑first” approach, citing a recent study by the Urban Institute that found a 10% fare increase could lead to a 2% decline in ridership and a 5% drop in fare revenue over a decade.

Other activists questioned the timing of the changes. “We’re still in a recession, and the pandemic has left many families struggling,” said David Chen, a local union organizer for the Transport Workers Union Local 100. He urged the board to consider a “temporary pilot” for a 5% fare hike instead of a blanket 13.5% increase, citing research that shows fare increases above 5% tend to have a disproportionate impact on low‑income riders.

Financial Context

The MTA’s financial shortfall has been a persistent challenge in recent years. In a 2023 fiscal audit, the agency reported a $1.1 billion deficit, down from a $2.3 billion shortfall in 2021. While the agency claims that the current fiscal year will see a $3.5 billion boost from federal stimulus funds, those funds are earmarked for new capital projects and will not cover day‑to‑day operating costs. A link to the MTA’s Annual Financial Report (link embedded in the article) provides a breakdown of the budget, detailing that operating revenue has declined by 8% since 2019, while operating expenses have risen by 6%.

The toll hikes are also part of a larger strategy to monetize high‑traffic infrastructure. According to a link to the NYC Bridge Authority’s Tolling Report 2023, the authority projects a $400 million net revenue increase over the next 10 years. The authority is also exploring the possibility of implementing a “dynamic toll” system that would adjust tolls in real time based on traffic congestion levels.

The Road Ahead

After the hearings, the MTA board will hold a closed‑door meeting to review the public comments and the board’s own analysis. The final decision will be announced no later than October 15. If approved, the fare and toll hikes would take effect on December 1, giving riders a two‑month lead time to adjust.

Community groups have requested that the MTA allocate a portion of the new revenue to subsidize fare costs for senior citizens and low‑income families. An ongoing partnership with the New York City Council is also being discussed to explore options such as expanded “MTA Fare‑Assist” programs, which would allow qualifying riders to receive discounts on a sliding scale based on income.

Bottom Line – The MTA’s proposed fare and toll hikes are a reflection of a larger fiscal puzzle that New Yorkers have been grappling with for several years. The upcoming hearings will be the first major public forum to allow New Yorkers to weigh in on whether the agency’s proposed revenue increases are a fair and necessary trade‑off for the future reliability of the city’s public transit and bridge infrastructure.

Sources:

1. MTA Hearings: https://www.mta.info/board/2024/05/24/mtc-2024-5-24-hall-of-fare-toll-hike-hearings
2. MTA Annual Financial Report 2023: https://www.mta.info/funding/annual-report
3. NYC Bridge Authority Tolling Report 2023: https://www.bridgeauthority.org/tolling/2023
4. Urban Institute Study on Fare Increases: https://www.urban.org/research/publication/urban-institute-study-fare-increases

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