NEW YORK — Starting Thursday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is ramping up mask enforcement in the transit system.

Anyone who is caught maskless on subways, buses, commuter trains or Access-a-Ride faces a $50 fine.

The MTA says its goal is to return to the compliance levels of last year and earlier this year, where nearly 100% of commuters wore masks.

"Now, our mask usage rates are just okay: 94% on buses. 87% on subways and in the low 90% on our railroads. We can and must do better if we're going to beat the virus," said MTA Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren.

The MTA has distributed 25,000 face coverings since it started a mask blitz after Labor Day.

Free masks are available at subway station booths and on commuter trains for any rider that forgets one.