(The following Associated Press was posted on the Hartford Courant’s website on May 31.)
STAMFORD, Conn. — Connecticut rail commuters can expect to pay more to travel to New York as well as within the state.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority this week approved a 15 percent fare hike for Connecticut Metro-North Railroad commuters that takes effect next month.
The 15 percent increase is expected to be implemented July 1 for commuters traveling to Grand Central Terminal and Harlem’s 125th Street station.
At the same time, fares for rail commuters within Connecticut will increase by about 5 percent.
The proposed fares were submitted to the MTA, which oversees Metro-North, earlier this month as part of Connecticut Gov. John Rowland’s budget package.
“This was really the last of the procedural steps and was something to be expected since the state looked to raise fares,” said Jim Cameron of the Connecticut Metro-North-Shoreline East Rail Commuter Council.
In public hearings last month, some commuters said they would drive to save money, but others said they would grudgingly accept the increase.
It is the first fare hike in Connecticut since 1998 and follows a 25 percent fare hike implemented earlier this month for Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road commuters in New York.