The road ahead for transit in New York City in 2026 includes fare hikes

Newly inaugurated New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-described antiauthoritarian socialist, won predetermination past twelvemonth portion campaigning connected making Big Apple buses "fast and free" — but there's a problem.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority oversees the autobus system, not the city. 

And portion Mamdani longs for a aboriginal of escaped Big Apple trips, riders volition alternatively beryllium getting slapped with terms hikes successful a substance of days.

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Zohran Mamdani, politician of New York, during a swearing-in ceremonial astatine Old City Hall Station successful New York, aboriginal connected Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Amir Hamja/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The tiny summation successful the basal autobus fare volition spell into effect connected January 4. 

"The basal fare for subways, section buses, and Access-A-Ride volition summation 10 cents, from $2.90 to $3," according to the MTA. "The reduced fare volition summation from $1.45 to $1.50." 

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Another alteration is already successful effect arsenic of New Year's Day.

"As of January 1, 2026, you tin nary longer bargain oregon refill a MetroCard," according to the MTA. 

At immoderate constituent successful 2026, the MetroCard volition nary longer beryllium accepted, and coins volition nary longer beryllium accepted for autobus fares, according to the MTA. 

NEW YORK CITY IS ABOUT TO TEST MAMDANI'S PROGRESSIVE ECONOMIC VISION

Signage advertizing subway fare increases astatine the Dekalb Avenue subway level successful the Brooklyn borough of New York connected Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025.  (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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"If you inactive person a valid MetroCard, you tin transportation the worth to an OMNY Card astatine a Customer Service Center. You tin besides walk down the remaining worth earlier it expires by paying for subway and autobus rides," the MTA has noted. "Once currency is nary longer accepted connected buses, you volition inactive beryllium capable to usage currency and coins to adhd worth to an OMNY Card astatine vending machines successful each subway presumption and astatine much than 2,700 retail locations."