MTA weighs 10% monthly LIRR discount between NYC stations

A proposal being considered by the MTA this week would give Long Island Rail Road commuters a 10% discount on their monthly ticket beginning in July — but only if they're traveling between stations in New York City.

The 12-month pilot program, which is expected to coincide with the launch of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion tolling program, would “encourage drivers to switch to transit … and avoid the toll,” according to the proposal, which was approved by the MTA Board's finance committee at a Manhattan meeting Monday. The full board will take up the measure on Tuesday.

Under the plan, LIRR and Metro-North monthly tickets for trips between New York City stations — including those in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan — would be discounted by 10%. That would drop the cost of a monthly pass between fare zone 3 stations — like Rosedale, Queens Village or St. Albans — and fare 1 stations — like Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal or Atlantic Terminal — from the current $220 to $199.75.

The discount, which will cost the MTA about $4 million annually, is being paid for out of the Outer Borough Transportation Account, which was created by the State Legislature in 2018 to help offset the impact of congestion pricing on New York City commuters. The $50 million pool of money is funded through a surcharge on taxi and for-hire vehicle trips. 

But, because the fund only aimed to address transit improvements in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, it does not extend to Nassau and Suffolk commuters. 

“We’ve just looked at the 10% on the city zones to benefit those customers at this point,” MTA deputy chief financial officer Jai Patel said when asked by an MTA Board member about potential expansions of the discount.

The reduced prices would remain in effect for at least 12 months, and through the next permanent fare increase, which is scheduled for sometime in 2025. 

Some New York City transit advocates said the discounts don't go far enough. They had pushed for the state budget to include the creation of a weekly "City Ticket," which would have deeply discounted railroad travel within the city, and offered free bus and subway transfers.

Jack Nierenberg, vice president of Passengers United, an advocacy group, said LIRR riders “deserve a lot better than the 10% discount,” especially given the MTA last year did away with its Atlantic Ticket, which charged $5 for LIRR trips between Atlantic Terminal and stations in southeast Queens, and included a free bus or subway transfer.

“It’s barely an incentive for all these people, and it only makes a trivial difference for all these transit riders,” Nierenberg told board members. “Commuters are still worse off than they were in the beginning of 2023.”

MTA officials have estimated that LIRR ridership will increase by as much as 2% with the launch of congestion pricing, which would charge most vehicles driving below 60th Street $15 in new tolls. The first-in-the-nation plan is tentatively set to take effect on June 30, although it could be delayed by pending lawsuits.

A 2% boost in ridership would mean about 4,600 additional passengers on LIRR trains each day. Speaking to Spectrum News NY1 Monday morning, MTA chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said there remains “room on the commuter rails” to accommodate the additional riders.

“I've always been passionate about the idea that New York City people should get more of the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North,” Lieber said.

Monthly LIRR tickets were already discounted by 10% in 2022, as the MTA sought to urge riders to return to the railroad following massive ridership losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the two 10% discounts, the cost of a monthly pass between stations in Queens and in Manhattan will be about 16% lower than they were five years ago, when it would have cost $234.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.