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A look at one of the new Metro-North ticket machines. Credit: MTA

Connecticut commuters and visitors to New York City on Metro-North’s New Haven Line are getting accustomed to changes in buying and using train tickets.

The changes, which were implemented during the first week of the year, affect both travel to Grand Central Terminal on Metro-North and travel within the city on the subway.

Here’s a look at what’s been changed.

One-way ticket expiration

One-way tickets, which could previously be activated and used for weeks after their purchase, will now expire at 4 a.m. the day after they were bought. For example, a rider who bought a one-way ticket on Sunday could use it until 4 a.m. Monday.

Day Pass

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is getting rid of round-trip tickets for Metro-North rides. Day-trippers into the city will instead buy a day pass, which will be valid for unlimited rides until 4 a.m. the next morning. For example, if a rider bought a day pass on Saturday, they can use it to travel anytime before 4 a.m. Sunday.

On weekdays, day passes cost 10% less than two one-way peak tickets. A weekday day pass to Grand Central would cost $46.75 from New Haven and $30.50 from Stamford, for example.

During weekends, day passes cost the same as two one-way off-peak tickets, which is $38.50 from New Haven to Grand Central and $25 from Stamford to Grand Central.

Metro-North ticket costs vary based on the date and time of a trip and its start and end locations, which are grouped into travel zones.

Pre-boarding ticket purchase and activation

Historically, passengers who bought a ticket while riding a Metro-North train rather than in advance have had to pay a $6 surcharge. But among the new ticket policies is a $2 increase to that surcharge, meaning it will now be $8.

Additionally, passengers who do not activate a ticket purchased in the TrainTime app before boarding their train will also be subject to an $8 charge.

Mobile ticketing technology can tell conductors when a passenger’s ticket was activated. And if they’re subject to the surcharge, they can choose whether to pay it in the moment or defer it to their next purchase, said Michael Cortez, a spokesperson with the MTA.

“Pay-as-you-go”

Metro-North discontinued its 10-trip ticket option, and its replacement is a “pay-as-you-go” system.

After taking 10 peak or off-peak rides in a 14-day period, mobile app customers would get a free 11th one-way trip during those same 14 days.

Riders who have earned a free ticket can use it for either a peak or off-peak trip, regardless of which ticket type(s) they purchased for their 10 trips, Cortez said — but the ticket has to be used within the same travel zones where it was earned.

Subway changes

The price of a ride on the New York City subway has risen from $2.90 to $3. 

Additionally, as of Jan. 1 riders can no longer buy a MetroCard. The city is migrating to OMNY, a tap-and-go payment system at the turnstiles, for subway payments. 

Riders can pay with a credit/debit card, their phone, or via a reloadable OMNY card, which can be purchased at subway stations. Existing MetroCards can still be used — the MTA will announce a cutoff date for accepting MetroCards later this year — but they can no longer be reloaded with funds.

MetroCard holders can transfer their card’s value to an OMNY card at a Customer Service Center.

Family trips

Metro-North has expanded eligibility for its Family Fare, which allows up to four children to ride for $1 when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Previously, the family fare applied to children ages 5-11 and excluded travel on trains that arrived in New York City from 6-10 a.m. on weekdays (the morning peak hours).

But as of this month, the MTR increased the eligible child age to 17 and expanded it to apply at all times of day and on all trains.

Fare increase?

There was no Metro-North fare increase in Connecticut that took effect at the beginning of this year.

However, on July 1, Metro-North prices will rise by 5%, along with prices on the CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East trains.

As manager of audience engagement, Gabby is responsible for CT Mirror’s digital growth. She manages our website, newsletters, search engine optimization, CT Mirror Explains product, on-site marketing, social media channels and internal data analysis. Gabby previously worked as a reporter on Patch.com’s Connecticut team and as an associate editor at The Woonsocket Call in Rhode Island. She is a Connecticut native who holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UConn and is pursuing a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.