Fare increases are always inevitable. It is one thing that doesn’t follow the cliché: what goes up must come down. But we have had a break from fare increases since 2019.
On August 20, the base fare for subway, local buses and paratransit will increase 15 cents, from $2.75 to $2.90. The 7-Day Unlimited Ride pass will increase from $33 to $34, and the 30-Day Unlimited Ride pass will increase from $127 to $132.
You won’t be able to stock up on purchasing 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited Ride passes. Any of these purchased before August 20 must be put into use by August 27. Otherwise, you will need to request a refund and purchase a new pass at the new fare.
For those not quite in the OMNY swing of things, there is a slight incentive to begin using it. OMNY customers will continue to get the best weekly fare. Your first tap starts a new 7-day cap. If you spend $34 (or $17 for Reduced-Fare customers) within a seven-day period, you ride free for the rest of that week. If you spend less, you only pay for the rides you take. The cap resets every seven days. Group transfers, express bus taps, and transfers do not count toward the weekly cap. MetroCards will be phased on in 2024. No time like the present to get used to OMNY, in which you scan a contactless credit, debit or reloadable prepaid card, the digital wallet supported by your smart phone, smart watch or wearable, or an OMNY card at the OMNY turnstile.
Discount program benefits for students, seniors, and Paratransit customers will not change.
As the Williamsburg Bridge is operated by NYC DOT and toll free, locals using that bridge won’t be affected by the MTA‘s 6% toll increase on toll rates for customers using an E-ZPass.
The Greenline 