NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – The MTA will vote this week to lower the cost of Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North tickets for riders commuting within New York City.
For some who live in the outer boroughs of New York City, like the north Bronx and east Queens, Metro-North and the LIRR are the only options—despite their expensive price.
“It’s just the way that it is,” said Amalda Mullarkey. “We have to get to work, we get charged a high price to commute and this is the Bronx. So if you want to take the subway, you can take the subway. If you want to pay a higher price, get the Metro-North.”
That commute to Grand Central can be an expensive one. A one-way peak ticket from Woodlawn to Grand Central runs $9.75.
That’s why the MTA will be voting to help commuters in the city with discounts.
Under the proposed fare changes, commuters who buy a monthly pass on the Long Island Rail Road will see their ticket costs go down 20 percent; for Metro-North commuters, it will be 10 percent.
Congestion pricing will help fund the discounts with what’s called an "Outer Borough Transportation Account," worth $50 million.
Even though the taxi toll for drivers entering south of 60th Street in Manhattan may be delayed, the MTA discounts won’t. Commuters could see them by May 1 of this year.
