MTA Public Transportation

by Aden Thomas

Do you agree with the public transportation prices? 

It’s 2025 and in New York the MTA public transportation price is $2.90 for one fare. A one fare is just one way so that's to your destination and not back. If you were to pay for a two way trip there and back the total price would be $5.80 which rounds up to $6 dollars for one day. Most people take two way trips from home to school or work and continue to do that for 5 days a week, that would total up to $14.50 for 5 days of traveling with MTA. $2.90 may not seem like much money but for public transportation it is. 

You have to consider the quality and safety of public transportation: it’s unsanitary and it’s unsafe. When taking the train or bus you have to ensure your own safety.

I interviewed several people and asked them general questions about public transportation with the MTA which included pricing, hopping the turnstile and whether it should be free or not. 

Source: NY Post

The first person I interviewed said the prices were expensive and raising the prices affects every industry because the salaries aren't being raised with it so it would be convenient if it was free at times or had discounts. The second person I interviewed said it was pointless to pay the fare and it wasn’t expensive. They also said public transportation should be free. Finally, the third person interviewed said the prices were expensive and that's probably why people hop the train. They also said public transportation should be free because it's a public necessity. 

“Overall 20 percent of all New Yorkers reported struggling to afford mass transit.”("New Yorkers Struggle to Afford Mass Transit; Expanding Fair Fares Can Help", 2024)

If the train fares continue to rise, which they will, I believe that people will keep hopping and the MTA will keep expanding train fare benefits like student and senior pricing.