As New York City's subways and buses stepped into a new era with fares now costing $3, frustration among commuters quickly spread like wildfire. Tom Nimen, who has called the city home for nearly five decades, expressed exasperation at the lack of service quality despite the fare hike. "I've been living in New York for going on 50 years and for all the fare increases, I think the subway service is subpar at best," he said. For Nimen, who has to make a choice between food and a subway ticket during lean times, the increased cost now forces him to reassess his priorities.
Arun Lakshman, a 23-year-old commuter, empathized with the situation but felt that affordability was a pressing concern for many riders. "It sucks, but I get why they're doing it," he said. However, the younger rider also pointed out the irony of investing in better services despite rising costs.
Data released by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier last week revealed improvements in subway reliability and ridership numbers – 83.7% on-time performance for weekday trains and 86.6% for weekend days. With a total of 1.3 billion trips taken, the MTA has seen a significant increase in its passenger base since pre-pandemic levels.
Despite this progress, Sunday's early morning commuters voiced their discontent with the higher fare. Ian Ward, who travels from Crown Heights to Union Square station every day, felt that better service was essential for justifying the increased cost. "If you're gonna pay $3, we should have world-class service now," he said. Unfortunately, Ward pointed out that rats and construction on tracks were still present in many areas.
Transit systems across New York are facing other changes with the MTA opting for modernization over incremental increases. The iconic MetroCard has been replaced by OMNY, while new fare gates designed to combat fare evasion have been tested since mid-January. While results so far show promise, the agency acknowledges that addressing such issues will require continued investment.
The increased express bus fare and monthly ticket prices on the LIRR and Metro North also added to commuters' woes, with the MTA and Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowing to make public transportation more accessible and affordable. For Mamdani, the increase marked a continuation of efforts to combat rising costs that have priced out many New Yorkers from using public transit. As he noted, when fares were $2.90, one in five residents couldn't afford them – now, the situation is only getting tougher for those relying on public transportation.
Arun Lakshman, a 23-year-old commuter, empathized with the situation but felt that affordability was a pressing concern for many riders. "It sucks, but I get why they're doing it," he said. However, the younger rider also pointed out the irony of investing in better services despite rising costs.
Data released by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier last week revealed improvements in subway reliability and ridership numbers – 83.7% on-time performance for weekday trains and 86.6% for weekend days. With a total of 1.3 billion trips taken, the MTA has seen a significant increase in its passenger base since pre-pandemic levels.
Despite this progress, Sunday's early morning commuters voiced their discontent with the higher fare. Ian Ward, who travels from Crown Heights to Union Square station every day, felt that better service was essential for justifying the increased cost. "If you're gonna pay $3, we should have world-class service now," he said. Unfortunately, Ward pointed out that rats and construction on tracks were still present in many areas.
Transit systems across New York are facing other changes with the MTA opting for modernization over incremental increases. The iconic MetroCard has been replaced by OMNY, while new fare gates designed to combat fare evasion have been tested since mid-January. While results so far show promise, the agency acknowledges that addressing such issues will require continued investment.
The increased express bus fare and monthly ticket prices on the LIRR and Metro North also added to commuters' woes, with the MTA and Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowing to make public transportation more accessible and affordable. For Mamdani, the increase marked a continuation of efforts to combat rising costs that have priced out many New Yorkers from using public transit. As he noted, when fares were $2.90, one in five residents couldn't afford them – now, the situation is only getting tougher for those relying on public transportation.
he's been livin in nyc 4 like 50 yrs & he's still facin issues w/ subway service after all these fare hikes 
maybe they shd rethink thier pricing strategy or invest more in maintenance? 
also, i think it's cool dat arun lakshman pointed out the irony of spendin more on services while prices go up 
we should b lookin at efficiency & quality 1st. and btw, 83.7% on-time performance is pretty decent 
let's keep an eye on those reliability numbers 
I'm so done with these NYC commuters complaining about a $3 subway fare 
And don't even get me started on the rats and construction 
If you wanna ride the subway for $3 a pop, at least expect some semblance of service... 
. I can imagine having to choose between paying for food or a subway ticket during tough times, it's just not fair.
. maybe we can find a balance here where they invest in better services without breaking the bank 
.
. hopefully we can get some creative solutions here and make NYC's transit system better for everyone 
because of these NYC subway prices! $3?! Who knew 50 years of living in New York would finally make me a master of juggling pennies? 
For real though, Arun's point about investing in better services is valid - it's like they're saying "Hey, we know you'll pay more, so let's try to make your commute less terrible" 
. I'm not saying it's all bad, those on-time performance numbers are still pretty impressive 
. But if you're gonna charge us $3, shouldn't the trains be, like, actually moving? 
. 83.7% on-time performance is decent, I guess, but what about the rest of us who get stuck with rats and construction 
i mean 50 years and still subpar service? that's not right. arun is onto something when he says affordability is key, but at the same time, the mta needs to step up their game if they wanna justify the increased cost. those 1.3 billion trips taken are impressive, but sunday mornings r a whole different story 
They should be investing in better infrastructure, not just slapping a new price tag on things 
It's like they think we're all just gonna take it lying down 
. Newsflash: we're not made of money, folks! 
. It's time for some serious reforms, not just price hikes 
.
. The subpar service quality is still a big issue despite the fare hike. It's not just about throwing more money at it, they need to actually improve the infrastructure and services we're paying for 
. And what about the people who can't afford public transportation anymore? It's not just about being more accessible, it's about making sure everyone has a chance to use the system 
especially when you see all these issues like rats and construction on the tracks 
. It's gonna be tough for commuters like Ian who need reliable service and affordable fares 
It's all about convenience for them, not us!
. The city needs to step up its game if it wants to keep attracting people like Arun Lakshman who's trying to make ends meet 
subway prices are crazy! $3 is already a lot, but to me it feels like they're nickel and diming us 
. And what's with all these new fare systems? Can't they just stick with the MetroCard for now? 
. And I get why they're doing it - MTA needs to modernize and make it more efficient. But, come on, if you're gonna charge us more, we should at least have world-class service 