With NYC subway fares expected to rise a whopping 15 cents this month, public transportation in NYC is getting more expensive than ever before.
However, some New Yorkers may not be aware of Fair Fares NYC, a program that began in 2019 to help low-income New Yorkers access public transportation at a lower cost. Eligible New Yorkers can receive a Fair Fares NYC MetroCard at a 50% discount. Options within the program include reduced-fare MetroCards for Pay-per-Ride, weekly unlimited, and monthly unlimited.
Additionally, Fair Fares NYC provides a 50% discount for Access-A-Ride, MTA’s paratransit service. This discount is automatically applied to a New Yorker’s Access-A-Ride trips once both accounts (Fair Fares NYC & Access-A-Ride) are linked.
“Public transport is a lifeline for everyday New Yorkers and I am a proud subway rider,” said Department of Social Services First Deputy Commissioner Jill Berry. “At the Department of Social Services, we are committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have equal access to the resources and services our great City has to offer, and the Fair Fares program is absolutely essential to our efforts to do so.”
Already, 297,308 New Yorkers have enrolled in Fair Fares NYC. However, it’s estimated that nearly one million New Yorkers are eligible to enroll.
Eligible New Yorkers must be of the ages between 16-84 and at or below the Federal Poverty Level. You can check if your eligible here. Currently, organizations and advocates are fighting for an expansion of Fair Fares eligibility to be 200% of the Federal Poverty Line.
Learn more about Fair Fares here.