NYC subway and bus fares rising to $3 in 2026, MTA officials say

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A man walks through Times Square Subway Station in December 2022.
Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress)

By Stephen Nessen
Published Jul 30, 2025
Modified Jul 30, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET
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New York City subway and bus fares are expected to go up to $3 on Jan. 4, MTA officials announced during the agency’s monthly board meeting Wednesday.

With a full transition to OMNY, the MTA announced it would also eliminate the 30-day unlimited fare option, making the seven-day fare cap the only way to get unlimited rides.

“It was a breakthrough three decades ago, but they’re regressive, use it or lose instruments, we’re just done with them,” Jessie Lazarus, the MTA's deputy chief for commercial ventures. … The proposed changes must be approved by the MTA board.

Mayor Eric Adams criticized the proposal, saying “Proposing a fare hike without demonstrating meaningful improvements is offensive to hard-working New Yorkers,” and urged MTA board members to vote it down.

The new fare increase also raises the cost of the fare capping program — the amount riders can spend on subway and bus fares over a seven-day period at $36, up from $34 now, so long as they tap to pay with the same smartphone or credit card. After riders spend $36 they’ll get unlimited rides for the rest of the seven-day period.

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