MTA announces discounted fares, expanded bus routes

Discounted LIRR, Metro-North tickets approved: MTA

Exactly two months before congestion pricing is supposed to take effect, the MTA announced several changes that it hopes will drive more people to mass transit. FOX 5 NY's Antwan Lewis explains how these new options are supposed to save you time and money.

NEW YORK CITY - As the congestion pricing deadline is approaching, the MTA will offer discounted fares on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad trips and express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

"Building on the best subway service in decades and historic on-time performance on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, now the MTA is taking another big step by increasing frequency on express buses and expanding commuter rail affordability," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.

The new programs are designed to have people in the outer boroughs consider switching to public transportation rather than driving to the city themselves.

See the details below:

Discounted fares

The MTA approved a 10% reduction in the price of monthly commuter rail tickets within New York City on Tuesday. The discounted monthly tickets will only apply to New Yorkers who travel in the five boroughs.

The commuter rail monthly ticket discounts will begin in July.

The MTA anticipates that implementing a 10% discount on monthly tickets will incur an annual cost of $4 million, while the enhanced express bus service is estimated to cost $883,000 per year.

Express bus service

The MTA is set to increase service on six well-known bus routes from Brooklyn and Staten Island to the Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan. The express bus route service increases will begin on June 30.

They cover peak period services on the BM2, BM5, SIM1C, SIM4C, SIM23 and SIM24.

When does congestion pricing start?

Officials announced Friday that congestion pricing will go into effect on Sunday, June 30.