Peeksville Area Commuters: Metro-North Proposes Fare Increases

Metro-North commuters on the New Haven Line in Westchester County and on the Harlem-Hudson Line can expect fares increase next year, under a proposal announced Monday by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

The increase will depend upon your point of departure. The MTA said it is proposing fare increases between 2.2% and 6.1% for tickets to and from Manhattan on Metro-North East-of-Hudson service; and to and from Hoboken/Secaucus Junction on Metro-North West-of-Hudson service, according to the MTA announcement.

All monthly and weekly fares would increase less than 4.25%, and fares on more than 80% of all trips would increase less than 4.25%.

For example, commuters from Scarsdale and White Plains would see monthly passes increase from $29 to $259; Bedford Hills and Katonah from $289 to $300; Croton Falls and Brewster, from $392 to $407; and Rye and Port Chester, from $269 to $280.

Fares to ride Metro-North Railroad are based on the distance traveled, and are lower during less busy, off-peak times. Significant discounts are available from the one-way and round-trip price by purchasing off-peak 10-trip, weekly and monthly unlimited-ride tickets, according to the announcement.

As is the case with the proposed New York City Transit increases, some proposed increases would be lower or higher than 4%, because fare changes must occur in 25-cent increments. However, any increase of more than 6% would result in a fare increase of no more than 50 cents per trip.

And if you’re a driver, as opposed to a train-rider, tolls on major bridge crossings including the RFK, Whitestone and Throgs Neck bridges will increase from $7.50 to $8, according to the MTA.

The cost of a City Ticket would increase by 25 cents, and policies regarding the calculation of onboard fares and refunds would remain unchanged. Fare increases for travel to and from or within Connecticut, which have previously been adopted by the State of Connecticut, are scheduled to be implemented separately in January 2015.

Charts with the proposed prices for specific stations and types of tickets are available at www.mta.info.

Photo credit: Metropolitan Transit Authority.

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