August 20, 2025
Good morning! I’m Brian Fritsch, Associate Director for the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC).
PCAC believes that small, predictable fare increases like this one are necessary to help the MTA keep up with inflation and the cost of doing business in the New York City region. We support the scheduled 4% adjustment.
That said, we remain concerned about several policy and fare changes that may fuel “hidden” and larger increases for the system’s most dedicated riders.
For example:
- Transit riders using the 30-day unlimited could see an up-to 18% increase as the seven-day fare cap doesn’t offer the same bang for the buck. We urge a single-day cap and, more importantly, a 30-day cap to be added to OMNY.
- The loss of the 10-trip on the railroads could amount to a 23% increase for some riders. The proposed free 11th trip in a two-week window, excluding travel with a new day pass, is a poor imitation. Keep the 10-trip or risk losing ridership, especially during the off-peak.
Additionally, we’d love to see a reduced fare for 12-17-year-olds on the railroads and a CityTicket Weekly with transfers to subways and buses – similar to the excellent $67 cap being offered for express bus riders. The resounding success of CityTicket is a clear indication that riders respond in droves to simplified offerings that benefit their pocketbooks. Every dollar counts.
That’s doubly true for New York City’s low-income residents, struggling in our current affordability crisis. Urging the city to expand the Fair Fares Program to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level at an absolute minimum would allow an additional 400,000 New Yorkers, including many minimum wage workers, to qualify. A further expansion to include the railroads within the city would also bring relief to people with some of the city’s longest commutes.
Let’s use fare adjustments to encourage record ridership, not discourage it. Thank you.