MTA to Vote on Proposed Plan for Subway Fare to Remain Flat, Elimination of MetroCard Bonus

Just when it looked like there would not be a fare hike, the MTA reversed course Monday and announced plans to vote on one this week.

After a January promise not to raise fares amid budget uncertainty, News 4 New York has learned the MTA is now going back to what’s known as "Option 1" — keeping the base fare at $2.75, but eliminating the MetroCard bonus, which means weekly and monthly MetroCards will be 5 percent more expensive. The same goes for commuter rails and tolls.

Some commuters are already prepared to pay more for a subway ride.

"I think whatever it takes to fund the subway," Brian Doherty, a commuter from the Upper West Side, told News 4. "We need improvements. I'm happy to do it."

While Doherty is willing and prepared to pay a bit more, there are other commuters who aren't so eager.

"You can't be charging all this money and you're not doing anything to improve the systems," Eno Okon, from Bed-Stuy, said. "I'm still late for work. There's still crazy delays."

"It's what it is. What can we do. We have no other choice if we wanna move around quick," Eduardo Oliver, a commuter in the Upper West Side, said.

The fare hike plan arrives just as reports emerge that the MTA’s money woes are so severe, the agency might scale back a plan to add elevators at key stations from 50 to 36.

The idea to scale back elevator accessibility sparked furious debate at Monday's MTA committee meeting.

“Not doing so is a moral failure on your part," accessability advocate Colin Wright said.

However, NYC Transit President Andy Byford ressured that he is still committed to the planned 50 stations.

"This president isn’t wavering," Byford said. "My commitment to 50 stations is still rock solid.”

Assuming the board approves the fare hike on Wednesday, the  next question is how much the MTA will get from Albany for that full modernization plan.