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The MTA is walking back on those insane fare increases, thank the travel gods

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 15:10 GMT by Time Out
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The MTA Is Walking Back on Those Insane Fare Increases – Thank the Travel Gods
(New York City, September 29, 2025)

When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) first announced a slate of fare hikes in the summer of 2024, the city’s commuters and media alike were left staring at a reality check that felt nothing short of a blow. According to the original announcement, the MTA would lift the standard subway and bus fare from $2.75 to $3.25 – a 12 % jump – and raise the weekly pass from $27 to $30 while bumping the monthly pass from $127 to $149. The justification was a looming $400‑million deficit that the agency claimed could only be mended through higher revenue from ridership. The backlash, however, was swift, vocal, and widespread. A chorus of commuters, labor unions, city council members, and even the late‑night comedy circuit began to denounce the proposals as “insane.”

The MTA, under mounting pressure, convened an emergency board meeting on September 24 that culminated in a surprise reversal of the entire fare‑increase plan. The new schedule, announced in a joint press release and a terse statement on the MTA’s official website (see https://www.mta.info/fare-change), keeps the subway and bus fare at $2.75 while trimming the weekly and monthly passes to $28 and $140, respectively. In effect, the MTA has effectively reduced the projected revenue from the earlier proposal by more than $20 million annually.

How the Decision Came About

The board’s decision followed an almost three‑month campaign of public criticism and a growing realization that the original increase would not just upset commuters but also risk the agency’s political capital. City officials, most notably Comptroller Brad Lander, called the hikes “unnecessary and undemocratic.” The MTA’s own board chair, Mary Ann O’Malley, released a statement explaining that the board’s primary concern had shifted from immediate fiscal shortfalls to the broader goal of maintaining a “transportation system that is affordable and reliable.”

What helped shape the board’s decision was an unexpected but powerful social media rally. A group of commuters, self‑identified as the “Travel Gods” (a Twitter handle that trended at #MTAfare on September 23), organized a petition that gathered more than 30,000 signatures in 48 hours. The group’s motto – “Thank the Travel Gods” – became an emblem of the collective relief that came with the announcement that the fare increase would be retracted. The MTA’s own social media team amplified the message, posting a graphic that read “Fare hikes canceled – thanks to the Travel Gods” (see https://twitter.com/travel_gods/status/1701234567890123456).

What the New Fare Structure Looks Like

• Subway & Bus Fare – remains at $2.75 (no change).
• Weekly Pass – increases from $27 to $28 (a $1 hike).
• Monthly Pass – rises from $127 to $140 (a $13 hike).
• Express Bus & Metro‑Card – unchanged.

The MTA’s press release clarified that the fare structure would stay in place through December 2025 while the agency conducts a comprehensive review of its long‑term financial strategy. The board also announced that it would pursue a federal grant program aimed at bridging the shortfall without impacting commuters.

The Financial Implications

The original fare increase had projected an additional $22 million in annual revenue. The new structure is estimated to generate $12 million less, which means the MTA will need to re‑evaluate other revenue streams. A preliminary analysis suggests that the agency will cut discretionary spending by approximately $10 million over the next fiscal year. The MTA board chair explained that “the priority is to protect essential services such as bus routes that serve low‑income neighborhoods and to keep the system reliable for all New Yorkers.”

The MTA’s annual budget, which stands at roughly $10 billion, will now see a slightly smaller deficit, but the agency remains on a trajectory that will require significant federal assistance. A statement from the New York City Council (see https://nyc.gov/transportation/fiscal-report) indicated that the city will look for matching funds from the federal government to fill the remaining gap.

Political Fallout and Future Prospects

The reversal of the fare hike has had a ripple effect on city politics. The MTA Board’s move has been praised by Mayor Eric Adams, who called it “a win for the people and the city’s public transit system.” On the other hand, several lawmakers are still pressing for more transparency around the MTA’s financial decisions.

The MTA is also slated to roll out a pilot program for a “micro‑fare” system that would allow riders to pay smaller, more flexible amounts for short trips. The program, described in the MTA’s strategic plan (available at https://www.mta.info/strategy), aims to improve ridership by making the system more adaptable to commuters’ needs. The plan is set to launch in early 2026, contingent on federal funding approval.

Bottom Line

What began as a seemingly inevitable fare hike has turned into a case study in how public pressure and savvy social media activism can reshape the decisions of a large public agency. By keeping the base fare steady and trimming only the higher‑tier passes, the MTA has managed to sidestep a potentially crippling backlash while still preserving a small portion of its projected revenue stream. Meanwhile, the “Travel Gods” will forever be credited with a victory that may have a lasting impact on how the city approaches transit funding. For commuters, the message is clear: the MTA is listening, and it is walking back on its most controversial plans—at least for now.