Concerns Over MTA’s Proposed 2026 Fare Hike

Lawmakers from Long Island are criticizing the MTA’s proposed fare increase for the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) in 2026, labeling it a blatant attempt to extract more money from commuters. The complaints come in response to rising tolls that have driven drivers to use trains instead.

Democrat Laura Gillen spoke out against the MTA on Thursday evening, alleging that Long Islanders are facing “double attacks.” She argued that while commuters are being pushed away from their vehicles due to expensive tolls, they are also hit with higher train fares.

“From the start, [the MTA] has targeted commuters with high prices, ostensibly to encourage LIRR usage. Now they’re punishing those same riders while failing to enhance services or improve trains,” she stated.

The proposed increases would affect weekly and monthly LIRR fares, which would rise by about 4.5%, while other ticket types could see hikes of up to 8%. Moreover, the validity period for tickets is set to shrink from 60 days to merely four hours.

Additionally, the MTA plans to eliminate round-trip tickets in favor of a new “day pass,” and riders who delay purchasing or activating their mobile tickets until a conductor arrives will face a $2 fee.

“Once again, the MTA is trying to squeeze money from hardworking commuters to cover their own mismanagement,” Gillen remarked.

She criticized the authority’s hypocrisy, stating they continue to raise fares while maintaining costly congestion pricing.

Gillen emphasized the burden the fare hikes would place on the already strained finances of Long Islanders who rely on public transit for work and school, amid soaring costs for housing and groceries.

“To impose a hike of 4.5% to 8% during a living crisis is entirely misplaced,” she asserted.

The MTA did not reply to requests for comment after Gillen’s letter, but representatives defended the proposed increases as “generous.”

In a board meeting in July, MTA board member Neil Zuckerman dismissed the fare hike claims. MTA CEO Janno Lieber previously defended the increase, asserting it would not adversely affect affordability for New Yorkers.

“Transport is just one of the few areas that help keep New York affordable, and we want to keep it that way,” Lieber noted during a press conference last month.

However, many riders disapprove of the changes, with some calling them “silly.” One commuter, Jeremy Byrd, questioned the removal of round-trip tickets for a “full-day” pass, pointing out that not everyone makes multiple trips to the city in a single day.

Others echoed sentiments labeling the proposal an obvious cash grab. Jennifer Martinez, a Long Island resident, remarked, “If the MTA is profiting from congestion pricing, where does that money even go?”

Calls for a comprehensive MTA audit have been backed by Nassau officials, including Gillen and county executives like Bruce Blakeman and Elaine Phillips.