Bad news, looks like commutes via AirTrain at JFK and Newark Airport could potentially be a bit pricier…
The Port Authority has just announced a new plan that will affect a few transportation methods at NYC airports. In order to be able to support infastructure needs and rising construction costs, the plan includes: increases on ticket prices for JFK’s AirTrain as well as a surcharge for for-hire vehicles such as Uber and Lyft, doing drop-offs at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. Currently, the JFK AirTrain has held the same $5 price since launching in 2003, but now the proposal suggests increasing it by 55% to $7.75 (same increase to Newark’s AirTrain).
Unlike a few other cities in the U.S., NYC has yet to introduce any surcharge costs for app-based rides like Uber and Lyft. Although there is a $2.75 congestion cost to and from the airports and below 96th street, the proposal now includes an additional $4 surcharge (app-based/FHV, yellow taxi’s excluded).
Of course, this has been met with criticism from drivers of for-hire vehicles, stating that all driving services to and from airports should be taxed equally, especially considering that companies like Uber and Lyft are already taxed more than regular taxis. So far the timeline looks like increased AirTrain fees will be enforced by November 1, 2019 and FHV surcharges towards the end of 2020. Hearings for the proposal are set to start taking place from July 16th.
featured image: Moody Man via Flickr