Overview

• Hybrid public hearings began Tuesday in Brooklyn with additional sessions Wednesday, with a board vote expected in the fall and a planned rollout on January 4, 2026.
• The proposal would raise the base subway and local bus fare to $3, set a permanent $36 weekly fare cap for tap users, lift express bus fares to $7.25, and increase single-ride tickets to $3.50 with reduced fares moving to $1.50.
• Weekly and monthly Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North tickets would rise by up to 4.5%, and most bridge and tunnel tolls would climb by as much as 7.5%.
• The changes are timed to the full OMNY tap-and-go rollout, with legacy payment methods slated for phase-out next year and a new $2 OMNY card fee.
• Riders and advocates voiced strong opposition and Mayor Eric Adams urged a no vote, while the MTA points to roughly $500 million in year-to-date congestion pricing receipts, an estimated $700 million in annual fare-evasion losses, and a newly approved $1.9 billion contract for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2.