Riders will have to pay more than 15 percent more for monthly MetroCards and 9 percent more for commuter trains starting next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Wednesday.

While the base fare will remain at $2.25, the MTA says changes to "unlimited ride" MetroCards are needed to cut its $800 million budget shortfall, which is expected to climb to $2.5 billion over the next four years.

"No one likes to pay more, but by pursuing the most aggressive cost-cutting in the history of the MTA, we've managed to hold the increase to the level agreed upon last year, despite the loss of $900 million in revenue," said an MTA spokesperson in a statement. "At the same time, the plan being released today includes no service cuts."

Weekly cards could rise from $27 to $28, and be limited to 22 rides. Or, the MTA would offer an unlimited card for $29.

For the 30-day MetroCard, the price would either rise to $99 for a card with a 90-trip cap, or the MTA could offer an unlimited card for $104. However, MTA Chief Executive Jay Walder said that if both options were offered, the unlimited card would have to cost around $130.

The unlimited 30-day MetroCard currently costs $89.

Moreover, the agency will phase out the less popular one-day and 14-day MetroCards.

In addition to these hikes, the MTA is proposing a $1 surcharge on new MetroCards and 25-cent charge for purchasing a single-ride ticket.

"They're gonna offer a set of fare increase changes to the discount and they're complicated," said Gene Russianoff of the transit advocacy group the Straphangers Campaign. "They're all over the lot, but the bottom line is, a fare hike is a fare hike is a fare hike."

The proposed hike also affects the bonus rides. Riders would have to spend $10 instead of $8 to get them, and the amount of the bonus would be reduced, down to 7 percent from 15.

Even straphangers who understood the MTA's budget woes told NY1 Wednesday that they are still reluctant to pay the increased fares.

"You know what their perception is, New York City transit riders that we interact with every day?" asked Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelson. "Their perception is that a bunch a rich guys on the MTA Board have hijacked their system and engaged in massive service cuts and now they're facing a fare increase to boot."

"I mean it's getting a little crazy but they're trying to balance a budget," said one straphanger. "But the question is, are there other things they can do other than take it out with a hike on the users?"

"I come to expect these things. This is just life with the MTA and life in the city," said a third. "It really doesn't bother me. I just shrug it off and keep on going because I've had 30 or 40 years of this kind of treatment."

Drivers might also have to pay more, as the MTA’s six major crossings and the Henry Hudson Bridge would increase by 50 cents and cash tolls at the agency's two minor bridges would rise by 25 cents. The MTA is also proposing to increase E-ZPass tolls for cars by 10 percent at all crossings.

Commuter rail fares will likely rise between 7.6 and 9.4 percent, depending on the type and zone. Most discounts for tickets purchased via the Mail & Ride and WebTicket programs would be eliminated.

Other changes proposed for commuter rails include: a one-way ticket would be valid for seven days (down from the current six months); a 10-trip ticket would be valid for 90 days (down from the current one year); and to speed up on-board fare collection processes, the cost of tickets purchased on board would be rounded up to the nearest dollar.

In addition to outlining the fare hikes, the MTA Board also finalized plans to lay off station agents.

The move to let go of more than 200 station agents had been delayed after a judge ruled the MTA did not hold public hearings properly. But those hearings were held last month, allowing the MTA to finalize the layoffs.

Hundreds of members of TWU Local 100 protested outside the agency's headquarters on Madison Avenue, chanting "fire the MTA."

Workers argue that this will jeopardize the safety of commuters. They also say they're upset over the MTA's new budget proposal that would tie any raises for workers to sacrifices in labor negotiations.

"New York City Transit riders we interact with every day...their perception is that a bunch of rich guys on the MTA board have hijacked their system, engaged in massive service cuts and now they are facing a fare increase to boot," said TWU President John Samuelsen.

"I need my job. I'm very stressed out about not having a job," said subway station agent Venus Smith. "They need to put us back to work. We need our jobs."

"They've got families. They've got mortgages," said subway conductor Louis Cabarrouy. "They're the eyes and ears of the MTA and for the police. So for them being removed from service, you are causing hardship in addition, you're causing chaos in the service."

Meanwhile, MTA Chairman Jay Walder said the agency has slashed millions internally but still needs union concessions plus the fare and toll hikes.

"We'll listen to the public and take a decision about what the best way to do this is. All of the options will be designed to lead, in aggregate, to a 7.5 percent revenue yield," Walder said.

Public hearings will be held on the fare hikes beginning in September. There will be hearings in all five boroughs.