New York City subway and bus fares will increase in price starting January 2026.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board on Tuesday approved toll and fare increases, along with a series of fare and ticket policy changes.The base fare for subways, local buses and Access-A-Ride is increasing 10 cents to $3 from $2.90.
“The modest fare increases approved today – which are below the rate of inflation – prioritize value for frequent riders and families while maintaining the MTA’s bottom line," MTA chair and chief executive officer Janno Lieber said in a statement.
If today’s fare increase were adjusted to match the pace of inflation since the last increase in 2023, the base subway and bus fare would cost $3.14, Lieber said.
Meanwhile, the reduced fare is increasing to $1.50 from $1.45, and the express bus base fare is increasing to $7.25 from $7.
Other changes include:
- OMNY seven-day fare-capping becomes permanent. The 7-day rolling fare cap, which allows customers to pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period and automatically ride free for the rest of the week with no pre-payment required, is becoming permanent. At the adjusted and approved base fare, no customer will pay more than $35 for subway and local bus rides in a week; reduced-fare customers will pay no more than $17.50 in a week. The prepaid MetroCard 7-Day, 30-Day, and Express Bus Plus unlimited passes will retire and be replaced with the automatic fare cap for all riders.
- Fare-capping extended to express bus network. Express bus customers will pay no more than $67 a week for unlimited express bus, local bus, and subway rides in any 7-day period.
- Tap-and-ride will be required for fare payment on subway, local and express bus. Beginning later in 2026, coins will no longer be accepted on buses but will continue to be accepted at card vending machines in subway stations and at one of the 2,700 local businesses that sell OMNY cards.
- Riders are now able to track their trips and associated charges on OMNY.info. The page shows tap-and-ride customers their fare progress to unlimited rides. By mid-2026, the MTA app will include all self-service tools available on OMNY.info.
- Promotional $1 OMNY card fee ends by mid-2026. The fee for a new OMNY card will be $2 when the MTA no longer accepts MetroCard for fare payments. This is still lower than the original $5 fee. OMNY cards are more durable and last for up to 5 years, more than twice as long as the MetroCard.
One-way passenger-vehicle toll rates on MTA bridges and tunnels will increase to 60 cents from 20 cents. This includes E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail. The existing toll discount programs for Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island drivers will remain in effect.
The board also approved fare increases to the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North lines. To view the full Metro-North fare table, see here. To view the full LIRR fare table approved today, see here.
