Subway commuters in New York City dealt with delays during the Thursday morning rush hour due to power outages near the West Fourth Street station. This comes just a day after the MTA hinted at potential fare increases.
By 9 AM, major confusion was reported on the B, D, F, and M lines, according to MTA warnings.
The B line was fully suspended in both directions, while M and D trains were not operating through parts of Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn.
The F train was rerouted to other lines through Brooklyn and Queens.
The MTA attributed the delays to a loss of power near the West Fourth Avenue Station during the busy morning rush.
This incident follows a similar power failure at the same station earlier in the week, which had already thrown morning commutes into disarray for many riders as the city dealt with sweltering heat.
Frustration erupted on social media, with many riders criticizing the MTA for considering fare hikes while service reliability seems to decline.
“It’s frustrating paying more for a transportation system that keeps getting worse,” one user expressed.
Another rider echoed this sentiment, saying, “It’s ridiculous during rush hour, and now they want to raise prices in 2026?”
Investigators were looking into the causes behind Thursday’s service disruptions.
Previously, the week’s outages had been attributed to aging infrastructure, particularly concerning electrical breakers at busy stations.
Further complicating matters, the MTA announced plans for a fare increase of 10 cents per ride starting next year.
The MTA had last raised fares in mid-2023.
If approved by the MTA Committee, these changes could take effect on January 4, 2026.
Despite the public outcry and recent service issues, some MTA officials played down the impending fare increase.
“I wouldn’t call this a hike,” stated MTA board member Neil Zuckerman during a meeting discussing the price changes. “We’re only up 4.4% after two and a half years, which seems reasonable given the current economic situation.” He described the increase as respectful of inflation and affordability concerns.
