Faresaregoing up for some Metro-North riders, but Connecticut has yet to announce hikes
Jul. 22—In Connecticut, however, fares for the state's three commuter rail lines and regional bus service are set by the Department of Transportation through a process that typically follows decisions-making by the agency's counterparts in New York.
Josh Morgan, a spokesman for ConnDOT, said Thursday that no decisions have been made yet on whether to increase fares, including the state's marquee New Haven Line trains.
Transit advocates, however, have noted that the MTA fare increases often serve as a precursor to hikes in Connecticut, particularly along the New Haven Line that serves commuters in both states. While ConnDOT sets the price within its territory, the MTA operates the service along the entire line.
"Historically, ConnDOT and the MTA have always raised fares in lock step," said Jim Cameron, president of the Commuter Action Group. "New York is taking the lead here and there's every expectation among Connecticut commuters that we will follow suit."
The fare hikes are a part of an effort by the MTA to eliminate massive deficits in its operating budget, which has struggled to rebound from the pandemic.
Earlier this year, Connecticut lawmakers approved a state budget that included cuts to service for both the New Haven Line and Shore Line East, citing the slow return of weekday riders. Those changes did not alter service along the state's third commuter route, the Hartford Line.
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When asked about the potential for fare hikes in June, Gov. Ned Lamont said he had spoken with both his transportation commissioner, Garrett Eucalitto, as well MTA officials about the struggles facing the rail line and its ridership.
"We don't want to see those fares go up," Lamont said, before adding "I understand that ridership is pretty strong Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, but 'Thank God It's Friday,' and nobody's on the trains."
Any potential changes to the current fare schedule, Morgan said, will be announced as part of an annual Service and Fare Equity Analysis that kicks off with a series of public hearings in September.
The fare hikes announced by the MTA this week will raise the price of monthly and weekly passes for New York Metro-North trains by 4.5 percent, while other one-way and round-trip fares will increase by up to 10 percent, though hikes will be capped at no more than $1 for each round-trip.
For example, the cost of a one-way, peak ticket between Port Chester, New York and Grand Central Station will increase 50 cents starting on Aug. 20, from $13.75 to $14.25.
Within the city, the cost of a subway or bus ride will increase 15 cents, from $2.75 to $2.90. The price hikes will also impact tolls on MTA bridges and tunnels, which will increase by 6 percent for E-ZPass customers.
In addition to existing MTA prices, the cost of entering midtown and lower Manhattan by any means will likely rise next year as New York implements a congestion pricing plan to charge drivers for using busy city streets.
That plan is expected to reap billions for mass transit projects across the region's aging rail, subway and bus infrastructure.
