New York City Council Preliminary Budget Hearing
Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
Good afternoon, I’m Brian Fritsch, Associate Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC. For nearly 50 years, PCAC has served as the official voice of riders on the MTA system.
This past election, New Yorkers delivered a clear call to city government to do everything they can to fight our affordability crisis, a daunting job. But sometimes the right tool to do that work doesn’t need to be bought; it’s right in your toolbox, waiting to be used.
The Fair Fares Program is that tool, but it’s been overlooked. Currently, only an estimated 35% of the over 1 million eligible New Yorkers are enrolled in the program, and as a result, it is chronically underfunded. This means hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who could be saving up to $910 per year in transit costs are instead getting nothing at all.
HRA needs to step up and develop a plan to reduce the hurdles low-income New Yorkers face in getting enrolled. After all, how many residents are already in the HRA Connect System, are known to be eligible based on income verification for another program, yet are not receiving Fair Fares? Too many. We believe now is the time to pursue automatic enrollment in this program, which could double enrollment and give New Yorkers a much more affordable way to get to jobs, education, appointments, and more. Use the tools you already have in your toolbox. We’d also love to see more data released on existing enrollees, including demographics, locations by council districts, and more.
Just over a month ago, we organized a letter from a broad range of unions, transit and disability rights advocates, social and immigrant service organizations, and community and good government groups who believe City Hall can make transit affordability a reality in this year’s budget by transforming the Fair Fares program.
Our five-point plan includes expanding eligibility to at least 300% of the federal poverty level—to finally include workers making at or near the minimum wage—fully free fares for the lowest-income New Yorkers at the current level of 150%; and adding commuter railroads and express buses as options. Let’s get people to work, with the tools in our bag.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.