Since the program has rolled out, New York City is guaranteeing specific funding to Fair Fares, offering MetroCards at a 50% discount to low-income New Yorkers.
Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced that $75 million will be allocated to the program in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023 budget.
The MTA has announced that the subway ridership has hit three million commuters for three days straight in a row, for the first time since the omicron surge began.
The Fair Fares program started with a $106 million budget but had very little promotion and attention to it so prospective users did not know of its existence. The pandemic has forced Mayor Bill De Blasio to cut the funding to $41 million.
The program was funded one year at a time through negotiations with the City Council. Now it is said it will be guaranteed, and once the Council approves the budget, the money will also be included in future budgets.
Fair Fares is currently open to people whose incomes are below the federal poverty level, which is $13,950 for one person or $27,750 for a family of four. The Community Service Society, the nonprofit advocacy group that helped establish Fair Fares, has previously proposed eligibility should be increased to twice the federal poverty levels so more people can participate in the program. David Jones, the CEO of the Community Service Society said he's glad the city is committing to the program.
“The Fair Fares program is a lifeline for low-income New Yorkers struggling with transit affordability. Our research shows that awareness of the program is low citywide, only 35% of eligible New Yorkers are taking advantage of it.”
”
