It’s time to expand Fair Fares
Next to housing, solving the transit affordability problem is key to ending NYC’s overall affordability crisis that leaves many struggling New Yorkers trapped in poverty and spending a significant portion of their income on basic necessities. Luckily, with the introduction of the Fair Fares program in 2019, eligible New Yorkers living at or below the federal poverty level can now apply for a half-fare MetroCard, offering access to more affordable bus and subway service.
And while, since its inception, the program has provided discount transit fares to more than 280,000 people, the restrictive annual income threshold for eligibility, currently at $14,580 for individuals and $30,000 for families of four, has stunted the potential of the program to be a transformative boon for many working New Yorkers and families who are very clearly living in poverty but do meet the income requirements to access the program.
Put simply, too many low-income New Yorkers who travel to work every day are still struggling to afford the fare.
We’re calling on Mayor Adams to be champion for transit affordability and unlock the true potential of Fair Fares by increasing the income threshold to allow New Yorkers making up to 200% of the federal poverty level to apply.
Fair Fares has already proven to be a successful program and is a lifeline for many of our most vulnerable neighbors. For just $142 million— ultimately a negligible sum, relative to the city’s $102 billion budget— Mayor Adams can deliver half-fare MetroCards to over 1.7 million New Yorkers, making it one of the most effective tools at his disposal to uplift and support transit riders living and working in poverty.
To learn more about why now is the time for Mayor Adams and the NYC Council to #ExpandFairFares, read the New York Daily News exclusive op-ed by Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum and Community Service Society of New York President and CEO David Jones.
