A Local Law in relation to automatic enrollment of eligible individuals of the Fair Fares Program
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT for INTRO 0248-A:
Since its launch in 2019, the Fair Fares Program has allowed hundreds of thousands of eligible New York City residents to move more freely and affordably around their city with the benefit of half-priced transit cards for the MTA’s extensive subway and bus system. Currently, approximately 370,000 New Yorkers participate in the program, representing close to 35% of those who are eligible.
Over the past year, New York City riders have asked their elected officials to prioritize more affordable transit and demanded equitable access to jobs, education, and much more. In response, in this year’s city budget, Speaker Menin, General Welfare Chair Hudson, and the City Council worked with the Mamdani Administration to secure the largest expansion of the Fair Fares program to date, raising the eligibility threshold to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, up from 150%. This was a particularly difficult hurdle to clear in any year, but one that was made significantly more challenging by the budget shortcomings left by the previous Mayoral Administration. Once implemented, the budget agreement will unlock the incredible opportunities the MTA system can provide for approximately 340,000 additional residents, saving them up to $910 per year on their transit expenses.
Yet, significant improvements must still be made to the program to reach all eligible New Yorkers and keep them enrolled over the long term with the benefits they are entitled to and which they deserve.
The City Council’s excellent oversight hearing on May 6th, 2026, highlighted that the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) needs to significantly reform its enrollment and renewal processes if there is any serious effort to increase participation . During testimony, HRA indicated that over 200,000 New Yorkers were receiving other HRA benefits but were not enrolled in Fair Fares, depriving them of up to $910 in annual transit savings. Additionally, HRA testified that nearly 50 percent of Fair Fares enrollees lose their benefits annually. We believe this is because HRA’s renewal process is nearly as complicated and onerous as the initial enrollment process.
This is why Councilmember Hudson’s bill, Intro 0248-A, which seeks to simplify and automate the Fair Fares enrollment process, is essential to the program’s success. For many years, low-income New Yorkers entitled to Fair Fares benefits have been stymied by the exceptionally long, complicated, and cumbersome enrollment process. Cities like Philadelphia have seen success and higher enrollment rates in their low-income fare discount programs without administrative barriers to joining, and it’s time for New Yorkers to benefit from the same opportunities. We strongly support this legislation and all efforts to make the Fair Fares enrollment process simpler and easier to navigate for nearly one million eligible New Yorkers who are not yet enrolled.
Thank you for considering signing on as a co-sponsor of this critical legislation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to discuss this legislation in more detail or if you have any questions or concerns.
Signed: Riders Alliance, Community Service Society of New York & Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC)
CONTACT:
Brian Fritsch, Associate Director
Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC)
[email protected]