Queens is the most transit-dependent borough in New York City. From the elevated lines cutting through Jackson Heights and Flushing to the LIRR stations serving Jamaica and Far Rockaway, the way Queens moves is largely dictated by MTA policy. In 2026, that policy shifted — and if you’ve been riding the subway or bus without paying close attention, some of those changes may have already caught you off guard.
Here’s a complete rundown of what changed on January 4, 2026, what’s still changing later this year, and what it means for Queens riders specifically.
The Fare Went Up — But Stayed Below Inflation
The base subway and local bus fare is now $3.00, up from $2.90. Access-A-Ride passengers paying the regular fare also pay $3.00. The reduced fare — for eligible seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients — is now $1.50, up from $1.45. Express buses, which Queens riders in areas like Bayside, Jamaica, and Howard Beach rely on heavily, increased from $7 to $7.25.
To put that in context: if the MTA had kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2023, the base fare would now be $3.14. The MTA Board voted 11-0 (with two abstentions) to adopt the current increases in September 2025, with the changes taking effect January 2026. The increases are the smallest allowed under the MTA’s biennial fare adjustment schedule.
Unlimited Rides Are Now Automatic
The most significant policy change for regular riders is that the old 7-Day and 30-Day unlimited MetroCard passes are gone. In their place, OMNY’s automatic fare capping has been made permanent. Here’s how it works: you tap and pay as you go on any subway or local bus. After 12 rides in any rolling 7-day period, the rest of that week is free — automatically, with no pre-payment required.
The cap: no Queens rider on subways and local buses will spend more than $35 in any week. Reduced-fare riders cap at $17.50. For express bus riders — a significant population in eastern Queens — the combined weekly cap is $67, covering unlimited express bus, local bus, and subway trips in any 7-day period.
For most Queens riders who were already buying 30-Day MetroCard passes, the math is roughly the same. But the key difference is that you now pay as you go instead of putting $132 down upfront — which is a cash flow improvement for many families.
MetroCards: Gone for Purchases, Not Yet Gone for Riding
As of January 1, 2026, you can no longer purchase or refill a MetroCard anywhere. Vending machines and customer service windows have stopped selling them. If you have a MetroCard with remaining value, you can transfer that balance to an OMNY card at any Customer Service Center in the subway system.
However, if you still have a MetroCard, you can continue using it to ride — for now. The MTA has not yet announced the exact date when MetroCards will stop being accepted for fare payment entirely. That date is expected later in 2026, and the MTA will announce it in advance. Simultaneously, cash will no longer be accepted on buses (though coins will still be accepted at subway station vending machines and at roughly 2,700 participating local retailers that sell OMNY cards).
OMNY Cards Now Cost $2
When MetroCards are fully phased out, the OMNY card fee will increase to $2. (It had been $1 as a promotional rate.) That’s still significantly less than the original $5 fee. OMNY cards are engineered to last up to five years — more than twice the lifespan of a MetroCard.
If you don’t have an OMNY card yet, you can also use a contactless credit or debit card, or a smartphone with Apple Pay or Google Pay to tap and pay. All of these are linked automatically to the fare cap system — rides are tracked by your payment method, not by a specific card account.
What About the Interborough Express?
Queens riders in neighborhoods like Woodhaven, Ozone Park, and Richmond Hill should know that construction on the Interborough Express (IBX) — a new rapid transit line connecting Brooklyn and Queens — is in planning and pre-construction phases. The IBX would run along an existing freight rail corridor, providing a cross-borough route that doesn’t require going into Manhattan. No service start date has been confirmed, but the project has moved from proposal into active development.
What You Need to Know
- Subway/local bus base fare: $3.00 (up from $2.90)
- Reduced fare: $1.50 (up from $1.45)
- Express bus base fare: $7.25 (up from $7.00)
- Weekly spending cap for subway/local bus: $35; express bus combo: $67
- Cap is automatic via OMNY — no pre-purchase needed
- MetroCards can no longer be purchased or refilled as of Jan. 1, 2026
- MetroCards still work for riding (exact phase-out date TBD, later in 2026)
- OMNY card fee will be $2 when MetroCard payment is fully retired
- Existing toll discounts for Queens residents remain in effect
- Source: MTA Board press release, September 2025
For a fuller picture of how NYC transit crime affects commuters right now, see our breakdown of the latest transit CompStat numbers. And if you’re still figuring out the subway map and service alerts, our guide to reading NYC subway signage and service changes is a good place to start.
