Toll hikes at MTA bridges and tunnels are in effect
NEW YORK -- The cost of commuting just went up.
Hundreds of thousands of drivers have to pay more to use MTA bridges and tunnels after toll hikes took into effect on Sunday.
E-ZPass users will pay 6 percent more, about 50 cents extra. Toll-by-mail customers and those with an out-of-state E-ZPass will pay 10 percent more, about $1 extra.
Major MTA crossings include the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, RFK Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and Throgs Neck Bridge.
They are the first of many commuter fare hikes this year. Subways, buses, Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road are getting more expensive, too.
In July, the MTA board members unanimously voted to raise prices across the board. They called the fare hikes modest and reasonable to help fund operational costs.
Starting Aug. 20, monthly and weekly tickets on the LIRR and Metro-North will increase by up to 4.5 percent. The base fare for subways and buses will increase for the first time in eight years, from $2.75 to $2.90.
Other increases:
- A seven-day ticket will be increased $1 to $34.
- A 30-day unlimited ride MetroCard will be increased by $5 to $132.
- Express bus fare will be raised to $7.
- A seven-day Express bus ticket will be raised to $64.
The MTA is also pushing ahead to implement congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan as early as next year.