NYC Fair Fares Program Expands

NEW YORK, NY –  more than 50,000 New Yorkers have enrolled in the City’s Fair Fares program. This is a half-priced MetroCard program for low-income New Yorkers.

“Using mass transit to get around is central to the lives of New Yorkers – struggling to afford it shouldn’t be. 50,000 New Yorkers now have access to a half-priced Metrocard thanks to this innovative partnership with the Council and I look forward to growing the program even further,” said Mayor de Blasio.

 The Department of Social Services continues to conduct outreach to eligible New Yorkers who are receiving cash assistance and/or SNAP benefits to inform them of their eligibility, including sending notifications, making telephone calls, implementing a targeted awareness campaign, and alerting HRA clients via their digital Access HRA accounts. To provide eligible New Yorkers with even more options, the City launched the pay-per-ride option in March, enabling those in need to obtain single fares.

“Working New Yorkers living in poverty need help. Fair Fares is an unprecedented program designed to ease their burden. The Council, which fought hard to enact Fair Fares, is proud that 50,000 New Yorkers have enrolled. We look forward to serving and assisting more low-income families in the months to come because we understand that for some people, the cost of a swipe is unmanageable,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

Starting this fall, the City will expand the program to eligible New Yorkers in NYCHA, enrolled students at CUNY and student veterans at or below 100 percent of poverty line.