$3 MetroCard looms in new fare-hike plan

New Yorkers had better start saving their spare change.

The MTA on Wednesday announced the two final proposals for a 2017 fare hike, either of which would jack up the cost of monthly and weekly MetroCards.

The plans also affect pay-per-ride cards, either by keeping the base fare and reducing the multiride discounts or raising the base from $2.75 to $3 with a more generous bonus.

Agency officials said that both plans were devised to help lowerincome riders by making wellheeled straphangers foot a bigger share of the bill.

“We want to make this more affordable to those who need it most,” said MTA Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran. “The biggest [method] used by those making more than $75,000 a year [is] the pay-per-ride.”

The MTA will hold eight public hearings on the proposed fare increases between Dec. 5 and Dec. 20, and will vote during its January board meeting.

In the scenario that sees the base fare jump to $3— a 9 percent increase — riders would get a 16 percent bonus on purchases over $6, making the average fare $2.59.

In the other proposal, the single ride fare would stay at $2.75, but riders would get only a 5 percent bonus on each purchase of at least $5.50, which would make the aver- age fare $2.62, the agency said at it’s board meeting Wednesday.

In both proposals, 30-day and 7day passes would increase by less than 4 percent, with the monthly going from $116.50 to $121. Weekly passes would go from $31 to $32.

The proposed fare increases aren’t a surprise. The MTA has been following a biennial schedule of fare hikes, and had said that they would go up by 4 percent in both 2017 and 2019.

Agency head Tom Prendergast said the hikes will pay for increased services, such as the Second Avenue Subway.

The MTA is also currently in contract negotiations with the union that represents its workers, and will likely have to pay them more.

Transit advocates said the MTA needs to do more to create discount programs for low-income New Yorkers.

The board members on Wednesday discussed asking the city to help subsidize fares for low-income riders, but said it is unlikely they will come up with a plan by March, when they hope to raise fares.