Fair Fares: There are plenty of plans to expand transit discount program. But will Mamdani adopt any of them? | amNewYork

"There is widespread support for growing the city's reduced subway and bus fare program Fair Fares among the City Council, advocates, and civic groups in this year's city budget. But Mayor Zohran Mamdani does not appear poised to expand the city's contribution to Fair Fares. Hizzoner campaigned in no small part on a promise to make city buses free for all New Yorkers a proposal he has given little oxygen since taking office. The mayor's $124 billion executive budget, released on Tuesday, did not include any new funds for Fair Fares."

"However, it did baseline to make permanent and recurring $25 million in programmatic funding on top of the $96 million the City Council baselined for it last year, for a total of $121 million. The various stakeholders agree that the current version of Fair Fares offering half-priced OMNY cards to 18-64 year-olds earning at or below 150% of the federal poverty level is inadequate. While the program is intended to make transit more affordable for the city's poorest residents, lawmakers and advocates say that amid skyrocketing costs, it could provide far more relief to a wider swath of New Yorkers."

"However, the various stakeholders have pitched different visions for making it cheaper for those who already qualify, expanding it to more New Yorkers, or doing both at once. Those trying to improve the program also seek to boost enrollment, which currently sits well below 50%. Just 380,000 of the over one million New Yorkers eligible are participating in Fair Fares, according to the city's Human Resources Administration (HRA), which runs the program."

Support exists among City Council, advocates, and civic groups for expanding the reduced subway and bus fare program Fair Fares. The mayor’s $124 billion executive budget does not include new Fair Fares funding, though it baselines $25 million in recurring programmatic funding on top of $96 million baselined by the City Council last year, totaling $121 million. Stakeholders agree the current program is inadequate because it offers half-priced OMNY cards only to 18–64 year-olds earning at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Advocates say rising costs require more relief for a broader group of New Yorkers. Enrollment remains low, with about 380,000 participants out of more than one million eligible residents.

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