Tap-To-Ride MTA Passengers Will Get Unlimited Passes

NEW YORK CITY — Taking the bus or subway in New York City will soon get a little cheaper — at least temporarily for certain riders.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Wednesday it will test new fares for New York City Transit to increase ridership and reduce costs and uncertainty for public transportation customers.

The pilot program includes a series of temporary promotional changes to fare structures for Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road as well. The pilot will begin March 1 and last for at least four months.

"Our fare structure is an important tool we have to win back riders," said Janno Lieber, MTA Acting Chair and CEO. "Business logic says it doesn't make sense to increase the price just as you're trying to rebuild your customer base. So, we're leaving the basic fare alone for now and rolling out a slate of new pilot fare promotions."

Under the pilot, the MTA would offer subway and local bus customers, along with those of the Staten Island Railway, the best possible fare for all trips. Under this pilot, customers who tap and go with OMNY would be charged the standard $2.75 pay-per-ride fare for their first 12 trips starting every Monday. Any further trips through the following Sunday would be free of charge.

As a result, no OMNY customer would pay more than $33 per week, which is the current price of a seven-day unlimited-ride MetroCard, and customers would receive the benefit of a seven-day unlimited-ride card without paying upfront.

The MTA is retaining free transfers between subways and buses for all customers. Two-part trips that are linked by a free transfer between a subway and bus are considered a single trip toward the 12 needed to reach the fare-free threshold each week.

According to MTA officials, they will evaluate the new fares' impact on operations, the customer experience and farebox revenue. If the pilot proves successful, the new fare structures could become permanent, be discontinued or be adjusted.