"Janno Lieber's 'Fare Adjustment' announcement met with skepticism by New Yorkers, who are well-versed in identifying subway price increases"
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced a proposed subway fare increase, set to take effect in January 2026, pending approval by the MTA Board in fall 2025.
The proposed hike, a dime, will raise the fare to $3 (for now). This comes on top of numerous other taxes that burden New York residents with the heaviest state- and local-tax burden in the nation.
Critics argue that the MTA leadership is not showing enough concern for the impact of the fare increase on New Yorkers. The MTA continues to increase fares despite collecting billions in revenue, a fact that has raised eyebrows.
Emmanuel Vasquez, a resident, expressed frustration about frequent issues on the subway despite the fare increases. "Although the hike may seem small, it makes a big difference to us," he said.
The MTA boss, Janno Lieber, is calling the next subway-fare hike "Fare adjustment". However, many see this as a tactic to conceal the impact of the increase on New Yorkers. Lieber is using a naming tactic similar to Team Hochul's Orwellian naming, as some critics claim.
The term used by the MTA for the next fare hike is "congestion pricing", a $9-per-trip tax that is planned to rise to the originally-planned $15. This tax was initially started by Gov. Kathy Hochul at $9, with the claim that it was a saving for New Yorkers.
Meanwhile, the MTA board approved a $1.9 billion contract for part of the Second Avenue Subway expansion project, with the final cost expected to be at least $7 billion for three new stations. The subway expansion project is expected to cost at least $7 billion.
Lieber & Co. are accused of diverting money to politically-driven projects like the Second Avenue Subway expansion. Board member Neal Zuckerman referred to the subway fare increase as a "very gradual raise".
However, for many New Yorkers, the subway hike is a hike, as understood by them. One resident, Hannah Reed, expressed her concern about the fare increase, stating, "The MTA leadership is accused of not caring about the impact of the fare increases on New Yorkers."
As the debate continues, the MTA faces scrutiny over its decisions and the transparency of its processes. The public will be watching closely as the MTA Board makes its decision on the proposed fare increase in the fall of 2025.
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