Metro-North riders from Connecticut may face a fare increase of up to 10% according to New York's MTA decision.
Connecticut commuters using the New Haven Line of Metro-North Railroad may soon face a significant fare increase, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) have agreed on a 10% hike to close a funding gap and maintain current service levels.
The proposed fare increase, consisting of two 5% hikes, is expected to take effect on September 1, 2025, and another 5% increase in July 2026. This move comes in response to budget cuts affecting ConnDOT and the underfunding of rail services in Connecticut.
The financial impact of the fare hike is considerable. In 2025, the increased fares are projected to generate about $1.4 million in additional revenue (partial year), $16.1 million in 2026, and $20.5 million thereafter. This extra revenue is essential to offset rising operational costs and avoid cuts to train services.
The MTA's Metro-North Railroad shares operations of the New Haven Line with ConnDOT. Sixty-five percent of the rail cars operating on this line belong to Connecticut, identifiable by the red stripe running down their side, while the remainder, which are blue, are owned by New York.
The MTA's joint Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road committee has moved the fare hike's approval to Wednesday's full-board meeting. Committee members Midori Valdivia and Neal Zuckerman have expressed opposition to the proposed increase, while Gerard Bringmann argues against fighting the hike for Metro-North trips.
Bringmann questions how to justify not allowing a September fare increase while planning a 4% increase for commuter rail, subway, bus, and tolls in 2025. It is important to note that the Connecticut Department of Transportation has not set a 2026 fare increase in stone, and Bringmann notes that the department may reconsider this decision in the future.
The proposed fare increase applies to Metro-North trips that start or end at a Connecticut station. Connecticut stations are owned, operated, and maintained by ConnDOT, while the New York stations are the responsibility of the MTA.
The MTA is also planning a 2025 fare hike for commuter rail, subway, bus, and tolls. The full board is expected to vote on the fare hike on Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether the proposed fare increase will be approved, and how this decision will impact the commuting public in Connecticut.
The MTA's planned 2025 fare hike for transportation services, which includes commuter rail, subway, bus, and tolls, will likely affect more than just Metro-North Railroad trips. This proposed increase mirrors the 4% hike planned for general public-transit services within the same year. The rise in fares for Metro-North trips that commence or terminate at Connecticut stations is not unrelated to the underfunding of rail services in the industry, as suggested by the funding gap between state departments and the need for maintenance of current service levels.
