No MTA Fare Hikes In 2021, Transit Bigwig Says: Reports

NEW YORK CITY — Straphangers finally returning to the city's subways and buses won't have to contend with a fare hike in 2021.

That's what Larry Schwartz, who heads the MTA board's finance committee, told reporters Monday, according to reports by the New York Daily News and amNY.

“There’s not going to be a fare hike in 2021, period,” Schwartz said, according to the Daily News.

Schwartz made the vow following a normally humdrum finance committee meeting.

MTA officials faced a dire fiscal crisis last year as ridership cratered during the coronavirus crisis. They voted to pursue looking at a 4 percent fare increase, as well as warned of "draconian" cuts if billions in federal aid didn't come their way.

A massive federal stimulus package included $6.5 billion that helped MTA avert cuts, but potential fare hikes remained on the table.

But Schwartz — a new appointee by Gov. Andrew Cuomo — appeared to put the kibosh on any hikes. He said during the meeting that raking in stimulus money while charging more for passengers isn't a good look for the MTA as it tries to increase ridership.

Schwartz is still just one board member but his closeness to Cuomo makes it unlikely the board will cross the governor, as amNY reported.