The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has officially approved a fare increase, raising subway rides to an astonishing $3 starting January 2026. This decision comes just months after imposing a contentious congestion toll in downtown Manhattan, further burdening New York’s already overtaxed commuters.

Not a single board member opposed this hike, signaling a complete disregard for the financial strain it will place on the working-class residents of our great city. Alongside the subway fare increase, commuters will also face rising costs on the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and MTA-operated bridges and tunnels. Enough is enough.

While the MTA boasts about collecting $449.4 million from the congestion pricing scheme, it is simultaneously hemorrhaging up to $1 billion annually due to fare evasion. This blatant mismanagement cannot continue. Taxpayers deserve better than a system that punishes honest commuters while failing to tackle rampant evasion head-on.

Transit chief Janno Lieber was quick to dismiss concerns about conflating the fare hike with congestion toll revenues. “I think you know the difference between our capital program, which congestion pricing goes to, and our operating budget,” he snapped. Yet, this response reveals a troubling disconnect from the realities everyday New Yorkers face.

Outraged commuters voiced their frustrations during board meetings, calling out the authority members directly. One straphanger hit hard, saying, “You guys are pathetic, every single last one of you,” as they stood in defiance of what they see as an outright betrayal of the city’s working class.

As we face these crushing fare hikes, it’s clear that the MTA must be held accountable. Serving the people should be the priority, not financial mismanagement and excuses. Our voices matter, and we must demand a transportation system that truly serves its riders.