The City Council wants to expand the Fair Fares program so more than 1 million eligible New Yorkers would be able to ride Big Apple subways and buses all on the government\u2019s dime. <\/p>\n
The city-funded program reimburses the MTA for 50% of the fare \u2014 a cost those earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level aren\u2019t required to pay out of pocket \u2014 which the council has proposed covering entirely in its city budget response.<\/p>\n
The council\u2019s response does not detail how much it would need to fully cover those fares, but advocates at the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA estimate that changing Fair Fares from a 50% discount to a full fare subsidy would run the city about $150 million to $175 million a year on top of current funding levels.<\/p>\n
Demonstrators during a Riders Alliance rally called for the expansion of Fair Fares program In December at the Atlantic Avenue Barclays Center station. Michael Nagle<\/p>\n
Individuals making up to $23,475 annually and a family of four earning $48,225 are eligible. <\/p>\n
There are 360,000 New Yorkers currently enrolled in the program and as many as 1.3 million eligible for it, according to the PCAC.<\/p>\n
The council\u2019s proposal stands in direct opposition to Mayor Zohran Mamdani who has said he does not support an expansion of Fair Fares \u2014 instead favoring to make buses free for all New Yorkers regardless of income level.<\/p>\n
Mayor Zohran Mamdani promised free bus rides for all New Yorkers during his campaign. Paul Martinka for NY Post<\/p>\n