New Yorkers rally for expanded Fair Fares subway discount eligibility
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Eligibility for half-priced subway discounts should be expanded to include people making under $31,300 per year, elected officials say.
The city's Fair Fares program offers discounted subway and bus fares to low-income New Yorkers. The program was expected to expand in early 2025 to include all locals making 145% of the federal poverty level, or $22,692 per year for a single person. A family of four would need to make under $46,617 to qualify.
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On Monday, advocates and elected officials are holding a rally at City Hall to say the program should expand to include New Yorkers making up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
The new eligibility would include a single New Yorker making $31,300, a family of two making $42,300 and a family of three making $53,300. This expansion would mean 415,000 more New Yorkers could get the discount, including many who work minimum-wage jobs, according to the MTA's Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee.
Advocates have long called for the 200% eligibility bar. In November, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Borough President Antonio Reynoso joined a rally at City Hall calling for the expansion.
At the time, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told PIX11 the department would need to review the previous expansion to 145% of the federal poverty line before considering another.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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