LIRR ticket prices rise effective today

Starting today, it costs more to ride the Long Island Rail Road.

LIRR ticket prices rose between 7.1 percent and 15.3 percent, depending on the ticket type and distance traveled. The increase on each individual ride is limited to 75 cents.

The hike is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's systemwide increase in fares and tolls.

Effective Sunday, the base fare on city subway and buses will climb to $2.50 from $2.25, although customers purchasing a single-ride MetroCard will be charged $2.75.

The MTA's goal is to raise $450 million in new revenue each year. Most of the money is earmarked for rising employee pension and benefit expenses, officials have said.

The MTA announced specific fare and toll increase proposals in October, and the proposals were reviewed at a series of eight public hearings and four public video submission sessions during November, the MTA said. The MTA Board adopted the increases on Dec. 19.

Fare and toll increase details follow for each of the MTA's services:

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

-- LIRR and Metro-North Railroad. New fares went into effect Friday for monthly, one-way, round-trip and 10-trip ticket holders. For those using weekly tickets (valid from Saturday through the following Friday) the new fares take effect on Saturday.

On average, most commuter rail tickets increased between 8.2 percent and 9.3 percent, depending on ticket type and distance traveled, the MTA said. The discounted CityTicket fare for one-way weekend travel within New York City will rise to $4 from $3.75, starting Saturday.

-- New York City subway, buses, Staten Island Railway & Access-a-Ride. New fare rates will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday.

The base fare for subways, local buses, the Railway and Access-a-Ride increases to $2.50 from $2.25; the base fare for express buses increases from $6 from $5.50. The pay-per-ride bonus discount will be reduced to 5 percent from 7 percent, but will now be available for adding as little as $5 onto a MetroCard, down from $10 previously. A single ride ticket purchased from MetroCard vending machines goes up to $2.75 from $2.50.

-- Bridges and tunnels. New toll rates on the seven bridges and two tunnels that are operated and maintained by the MTA are effective 2 a.m. Sunday. At most crossings, tolls are rising to $5.33 from $4.80 for E-ZPass customers and to $7.50 from $6.50 for cash customers.

More information is at mta.info/lirr/, mta.info/nyct/fare/NewFares.htm and mta.info/mnr/html/fares_new.htm.