MTA won’t hike fares in 2021, Cuomo-allied transit big vows (New York: buses, move)

[Aeran]

So, they'll just raise it next year.

https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-won...d-transit-big/

The MTA will not raise fares for riders this year, according to Larry Schwartz, an influential MTA board member and longtime ally of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“There’s not going to be a fare hike in 2021, period,” Schwartz told reporters Monday, July 19, following the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Finance Committee which he chairs.

The full MTA board convenes on Wednesday, July 21, and could still vote to increase fares then or at a later meeting this year — but since Cuomo controls the MTA, the panel is unlikely to go against Schwartz’s proposal.

During Monday’s meeting, Schwartz said a fare hike would discourage riders from returning to the subways, buses, and commuter rails just when MTA needs it most as the city and state recover from COVID-19.

“I don’t think at this time and place raising fares on any New Yorkers is appropriate. At a time when we need to encourage increase ridership, raising fares does the opposite,” he said.

Still, Schwartz said it is possible that the MTA board will approve a fare hike next year.

The MTA has raised fares and tolls once every two years since 2009.

[Chava61]

Well it is a good move on the MTA's part on behalf of its customers.