The price of a MetroCard may rise to $2.25, but the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) is using vending machines as their excuse for the 25 cents fare hike. Many transit agencies usually increase their fares by five or ten cents, but the MTA says, they would like to reduce the nuisance of change dispensed by fare vending machines (not only for the passengers, but imagine all the change that would have to be dumped into the machines). The New York Subway carries five million weekday passengers, of which a large percentage still does not use passes. Machines would, therefore, quickly run out of change. The current $2 fare is already one of the most expensive in the country, and riders are asking, "Why doesn't the fare stay at $2?" Unfortunately, the MTA will hit a $1 billion deficit by 2009 and needs to find sources of income. Increasing the fare is an easy way to do so. The MTA has proposed two fare structures. One is in the traditional way of pricing, where each trip costs $2.25. The other plan will give discounts for those traveling during off-peak hours: a single trip MetroCard will still cost $2.25, but for Metrocards with $6 or more in credit, off-peak trips will be $1.50 and $2 for peak hour trips. In both proposed options, the price for passes will increase. The MTA hasn't announced the exact date of when the fare will increase, so enjoy your subway rides with empty pockets while they last - three quarters will soon come with every MetroCard.
Source:
