NYC Mayor Rides Free Q70 Bus Amid MTA Fare Hikes

MTA Fare Increases

• subway fares have increased by 10 cents to $3 per ride.
• LIRR and Metro North fares have gone up by 4.5% for weekly or monthly ticket holders, and about 8% for single ride tickets.
• Mobile Day pass tickets bought on the Train Time app will now auto-activate after purchase.
• Customers who repeatedly buy tickets on board will receive warnings before being charged an additional $2.

Commuter Reactions

• 💬 Some commuters expressed frustration, calling the fare hikes "ridiculous" and "pathetic."
• ✅ Others found the increases acceptable, noting that "it's only 10 cents" and that it's "necessary" to fund improvements.
• 📈 One commuter felt the system has improved in the last year and is happy to pay the small increase to maintain that progress.

Mayor's Commitment to Free Buses

• 🚌 Mayor Adams rode the Q70 bus in Jackson Heights, Queens, which is currently the only free bus in the city.
• 🗣️ He reiterated his campaign promise to make buses free for New Yorkers, despite the current fare hikes.
• 💰 The mayor stated that the next steps involve developing the proposal and identifying alternative revenue streams to fund the MTA.