Subway Rides Get More Expensive This Weekend: What To Know

NEW YORK — A lot has happened in the nearly two months since the MTA Board approved its biannual fare hike plan. But the dreaded day is almost here: New York City subway and bus rides get more expensive on Sunday.

That's when the fare changes approved in February finally go into effect for the city's transit system, along with the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Railroad. Tolls for the MTA's bridges and tunnels already went up on March 31.

The MTA committed to increasing fares every two years a decade ago to avoid hitting commuters with a big hike all at once. After significant pushback to this year's increase — and a one-month delay — the beleaguered transit agency decided to keep the base subway and bus fare flat.

But straphangers who buy unlimited weekly and monthly passes will take a hit, as will anyone who pays for at least two rides at once.

Here's what you need to know before buying your next MetroCard.

What's Changing?

The base subway and bus fare will remain at $2.75, and single rides will still cost $3. Those prices have been in place since 2015.

But straphangers will no longer get a 5 percent bonus when they purchase at least two rides at once. That means your MetroCard balance will be smaller than it used to each time you get a refill.

Unlimited MetroCard users will have to pay more out of pocket. The price for a seven-day pass will rise from $32 to $33, and 30-day passes will cost $127, up from $121.

Express bus riders will see their fare rise to $6.75 from $6.50 and they will no longer be able to pay for a trip with coins. But Paratransit users get a break — their fare will also stay at $2.75.

More details about the fare hikes are available from the MTA here.

Why Is The MTA Doing This?

MTA officials contended the fare hikes were necessary to stave off financial trouble for the cash-strapped agency.

A budget deficit of $1.6 billion would have loomed in 2022 if increases did not come this year and in 2021, the MTA's chief financial officer said last fall. Just the one-month delay in passing this year's hikes cost the agency $30 million that it will never make up, then-Acting Chairman Fernando Ferrer said in February.

But Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who effectively controls the MTA — questioned the fare hikes. Other opponents of the move argued straphangers shouldn't bear the cost of an increase until state lawmakers established a new funding stream for the MTA. But that came in the form of congestion pricing, which was included in the state budget passed this month.

What Happens If I Bought An Unlimited MetroCard Before April 21?

You'll get a grace period. The MTA says all passes bought before Sunday have to be activated by April 29 for riders to get the full benefits.

That means a straphanger who buys a seven-day card on April 20 and waits until April 29 to swipe it will have unlimited rides until May 5. Similarly, a 30-day pass bought at the lower price but not used until April 29 will last until May 28.