Metro North Railroad fares in Connecticut are going up five percent starting July 1st. A peak roundtrip from South Norwalk to Grand Central, which is already approaching forty dollars, will increase by about two dollars to nearly forty-one dollars and fifty cents.
Off-peak roundtrip fares will also rise, going up approximately one dollar and fifty cents. The increase affects all Metro North Railroad services in Connecticut, as well as the CT Rail Hartford Line and Shoreline East services.
This is the second five percent fare increase in less than a year. The first went into effect last September after the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced the finalization of proposed rail fare changes.
The state says the increases were meant to help avoid reductions to service and the number of trains on the schedule after last year's state budget resulted in a funding gap for rail services.
Commuters have expressed frustration at the rising costs of public transportation. One rider questioned whether they should be walking to work, noting that both train prices and gas prices keep going up.
Another commuter took a more pragmatic view, saying that as long as the service provided equals the increase in price, the fare hike is acceptable. The quality of service remains a key concern for daily riders.
The fare increases come at a time when many Connecticut residents are already struggling with the rising cost of living. Transportation costs represent a significant portion of household budgets for suburban commuters who rely on rail services to reach their workplaces in New York City.