Happy New Year! The MTA’s series of fare hikes takes effect this weekend. Yes, that means Monday’s commute will be extra rough. Plus, a system-wide rollout rarely happens flawlessly. Sweeping fare hikes take effect Sunday, affecting New York City Transit’s subways and buses, the Long Is land Rail Road and Metro-North. The MTA Board approved the plan with an 11-0 vote and two abstentions in September 2025, though most changes were set to take effect in January to align with the system-wide rollout of the tap-and-ride technology. Here are the details on the fare and policy changes: Subways, buses and Access-A-Ride The base fare for subways, local buses, and Access-A-Ride increases 10 cents, from $2.90 to $3. The reduced fare goes from $1.45 to $1.50, and the express bus base fare increases from $7 to $7.25. A number of policy updates and enhancements are also rolling out: OMNY seven-day fare-capping becomes permanent. The 7-day rolling fare cap, which allows customers to pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period and automatically ride free for the rest of the week with no pre-payment required, becomes permanent. At the adjusted and approved base fare, no customer will pay more than $35 for subway and local bus rides in a week; reduced-fare customers will pay no more than $17.50 in a week. The prepaid MetroCard 7-Day, 30-Day, and Express Bus Plus unlimited passes will retire and be replaced with the automatic fare cap for all riders. Fare-capping extended to express bus network. Express bus customers will pay no more than $67 a week for unlimited express bus, local bus, and subway rides in any 7-day period. Tap-and-ride will be required for fare payment on subway, local and express bus. The last day to buy or refill a MetroCard was Dec. 31, 2025. Beginning later in 2026, coins won’t be accepted on buses but will be at card vending machines in subway stations and at one of the 2,700 local businesses that sell OMNY cards. OMNY charge and trip history available on OMNY. info. Customers are now able to track their trips and associated charges on OMNY.info. The page shows tap-and-ride customers their fare progress to unlimited rides. By mid-2026, the MTA app will include all self-service tools available on OMNY.info. Promotional $1 OMNY card fee ends by mid-2026. The fee for a new OMNY card will be $2 when the MTA no longer accepts MetroCard for fare payments. This is still lower than the original $5 fee. OMNY cards are more durable and last for up to 5 years, more than twice as long as the MetroCard. Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North For the commuter railroads, an average increase of up to 4.5% applies to monthlies, weeklies, and one-way peak tickets (excluding City Tickets). There will be no increase to Metro-North’s Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines. Monthly ticket fares will not exceed $500. To view the full Metro-North fare table, see here. To view the full LIRR fare table approved today, see here. There are also a bunch of ticket policy changes: Universal reduced-fare ticket valid for travel at all times. There will be a universal reduced-fare ticket for seniors, people with disabilities, and people on Medicare that will be valid 24/7, including on morning peak trips. More affordable trips for families. The eligibility age for a Family Fare ticket goes from 11 to 17. Children aged 5-17 will ride for $1 when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, including during the morning rush. One-way tickets are valid until 4 a.m. the next day. All one-way tickets, both paper and mobile, will expire at 4 a.m. the day after purchase. Current one-way tickets are valid for 60 days. Customers still need to activate tickets before boarding. New unlimited Day Pass. A Day Pass is available to purchase for unlimited daily travel, replacing the round-trip ticket and will be valid until 4 a.m. the next day. On weekdays, the Day Pass will cost 10% less than two one-way peak tickets; on weekends, it would cost the same as two one-way off-peak tickets. “Pay-as-you-go” mobile discount replaces 10-trip ticket. A new “pay-as-you-go” discount will be available for mobile customers. After 10 peak or off-peak trips in 14 days, mobile customers get an 11th peak or off-peak one-way trip for free in the same 14-day period. The prior 10-trip was discontinued, and the new fare product does not require customers to pre-pay upfront to receive a discount. Onboard surcharges for late mobile ticket purchases and activations. Customers who repeatedly purchase or activate mobile tickets on board are subject to an onboard surcharge after an escalating series of warnings. This change is aimed at expediting fare collection by encouraging customers to have their tickets activated and ready for inspection. Bridge and tunnel tolls One-way passenger-vehicle toll rates increase between 20 cents to 60 cents at all bridge and tunnel facilities. This includes E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail. The existing toll discount programs for Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island drivers remain in effect. Learn more about fare and toll changes here. ...read more read less