Janae Pierre: Welcome to NYC NOW, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, July 31st. Here's the midday news from Verónica Del Valle.

Verónica Del Valle: Local officials are warning residents to stay off the roads and prepare for flash flooding as hefty storms roll through the area tonight into tomorrow. The National Weather Service says New York City can expect anywhere from 1.5 to 3 inches of rain. Some areas could see as many as 5 inches, depending on how the storm system develops. Meteorologist Dave Radel says the worst will hit later today.

Dave Radel: The timing of this is really this afternoon into this evening, about a six to eight, nine-hour period there. This may impact the evening commute for folks in terms of some of the heaviest rainfall.

Verónica Del Valle: Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul are urging people who live in low-lying areas to stay vigilant in case of flooding. Officials are also asking residents to clear out local catch basins or report clogged ones to 311. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy is issuing an early dismissal for all state offices after 1:00 this afternoon.

Dozens of New York cannabis dispensaries may have to move or close. New York law bars dispensaries from opening within 500 feet of schools. At first, state officials were measuring the distance door to door, but now say they should have measured property lines. Now they're trying to correct the error. Governor Hochul and state lawmakers say they will try to change the law to let dispensaries stay where they are, but they're not giving store owners any guarantees. The legislature returns to session in January.

We have a map of the dispensaries that might have to move at our news site, Gothamist. Feels like 87 and mostly sunny right now. Remember, flood watch through midday tomorrow.

Janae Pierre: Stay close. There's more after the break.

Announcer: NYC NOW.

Michael Hill: On WNYC, I'm Michael Hill. MTA fare hike. Another's coming. How much more will commuters and drivers have to pay? WNYC's transit reporter Stephen Nessen joins us with what to expect. Stephen, what are the details of this MTA proposal?

Stephen Nessen: Let's start with the basics: the cost of a single subway and bus ride. Costs will go up $0.10. We finally have a nice round number, $3 a ride. The MTA has tried to stick to these predictable fare hikes. We see them every two years, so this isn't too crazy. The agency argues that, given the high rate of inflation we've seen, the cost of a ride is lower than what it should be, which they say is $3.50. Here's MTA official Jessie Lazarus yesterday explaining how the MTA fares used to be closely tied to the cost of a slice. It's known as the pizza principle.

Jessie Lazarus: Pizza principle, this homegrown economic theory that the cost of a subway and the cost of a slice should always be the same, really collapsed in the last few years, in this period, for the first time since the 1960s.

Stephen Nessen: Though the MTA argues $3 is still a pretty good deal to get around the city, cheaper than a slice.

Michael Hill: Stephen, it's not just subways, though. All MTA services are going up in cost starting in January.

Stephen Nessen: That's right. The commuter railroads, Long Island Railroad and Metro-North, those prices will actually go up 4.4%. That's higher than the subway. Bridges and tunnels, the tolls for those will go up 7.5%. There's still congestion pricing. That doesn't change. There are some other new costs coming as well. OMNY cards, if you buy one of those physical cards right now, they cost $1. Starting January 4th, it's going to go up to $2, unless you just use your credit card or smartphone.

Michael Hill: Pardon me, Stephen. Is this definitely happening?

Stephen Nessen: Most likely. Although the public will get a chance to weigh in. There'll be some public hearings coming up, and the MT board itself will get a chance to weigh in. There was some concern from some board members, but it doesn't look like a majority are fighting against this fare increase.

That said, the Adams administration sent out a statement yesterday, and they are outraged. They are calling for their four board members to no on this hike. Adams says, "Proposing a fare hike without demonstrating meaningful improvements is offensive to hard-working New Yorkers." Like I said, there were some grumblings from a couple of board members, but it's not enough to derail this plan, as far as I heard.

Michael Hill: Stephen, I have to ask. People are clamoring for a more affordable city. How does the MTA plan to raise fares amid that clamor, and especially after the hot weather this week showed the system cannot stand up to changing weather patterns? Why does the MTA say this is necessary?

Stephen Nessen: Well, the MTA would argue, like I said, taking a subway or bus is still cheaper than taking a cab or driving. It's lower than the rate of inflation. To the point that the MTA is a steward of public money and its promise to modernize the system, and they definitely don't always deliver on that. We saw it laid bare this week with those meltdowns. Another detail this week that speaks to that is we learned that their signal upgrade program, which is underway, remember when the G train shut down last summer? The work is still ongoing this summer.

Well, a bunch of those projects are late, and they're over budget. I asked the chairman of the MTA, Janno Lieber, about this yesterday, and he admitted, "Yes, we don't always get it right, but we're doing our best and moving forward. We're learning from our mistakes and asking for patience." Again, like you said, I don't know how much patience the public has for the MTA at this point.

Michael Hill: Stephen, can you explain changes to the fare cap program?

Stephen Nessen: Yes. That's the subway and bus program with OMNI. When you spend $34 within seven days, you get free rides for the rest of those seven-day period whenever they first tap to kickstart the seven days. Remember, that's like if you do 12 rides, the 13th and after that's free, that's going to go up to $36 with the increase in fares.

The bad news with that is, starting early next year, the MetroCard will be going away. Going away as well will be the 30-day unlimited MetroCard ride, which is going to be retired. I know some folks are not happy about that. The MTA calls that 30 day a regressive cost because you have to pay the $132 up front. With fare capping, you get the benefits just paying per ride. They also say not that many people use the program anyways, the unlimited that is.

Michael Hill: Stephen, how are riders reacting?

Stephen Nessen: Well, as they say, never read the comments. They're predictably vitriolic. Our excellent producer, Amanda Rosen, hit the platform and spoke to writers who were somewhat more understanding, maybe a bit resigned. Here's Jonathan Romero from the Bronx.

Jonathan Romero: Obviously, it sucks. A lot of people know the struggle of living in New York. Anytime anything's raised, people just go more angrier. Obviously, it's not the best thing to happen.

Michael Hill: Stephen, quick question. Is there good news out there for express bus riders?

Stephen Nessen: The express bus riders are now going to be part of this fare-capping program, too. Once they spend $67 in a seven-day period, they'll have unlimited rides after that. The base fare for those trips also is going up from $7 to $7.25. As our other reporter, James Ramsay, reported recently, it is quite a luxurious ride if you can afford it.

Michael Hill: WNYC transportation reporter Stephen Nessen. Stephen, great job. Thank you.

Stephen Nessen: Thank you, Michael.

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Janae Pierre: Thanks for listening. This is NYC NOW from WNYC. Catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. More soon.

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