By Philip Newman
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has come up with two choices for making what it says are essential raises to transit fares, which would would become effective next spring.
One of the plans would mean hiking the cost of a ride on the city’s subways and buses to $3 from $2.75.
The MTA reminded riders and motorists that that just over over half off the transit system’s $15.6 billion annual operating budget comes from fares and tolls.
“The MTA continues to keep its promise to make sure the fares and toll increases, while necessary to keep our system running, remain as low as possible and that they are done in an equitable way as possible,” said MTA Chairman Tom Pendergast.
Two fare structures are under consideration that treat the base fare and bonus differently.
Under Plan A the new $3 fare would come with a bonus of as much as 16 percent on each MetroCard purchase of more than $6.
Plan B would keep the base fare at $2.75 but limit the bonus to 5 percent of each purchase of at least $5.50.
Under both plans the cost of a weekly MetroCard would rise by $1 to $32, while a monthly pass would go up by $4.50 to $121.
The new fares and tolls will take effect on March 19, 2017.
The MTA proposals will be discussed by straphangers before MTA officials at eight public hearings in December.
The MTA board will vote on the new fares in January.
Both MTA options for raising the fare would raise almost the same amount of money.
The Queens location for the public hearing will be Dec. 5 at the Milton G. Basin Performing Arts center in York Collage at 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica.
