NEW YORK CITY— More than 340,000 additional low-income New Yorkers will soon qualify for half-price subway, bus and paratransit fares under an expansion of the City's Fair Fares program.
The City Council approved legislation Thursday to streamline enrollment in Fair Fares, a program that cuts public transit fares in half for eligible New Yorkers.
The expansion, included in the fiscal 2027 city budget, raises the income limit from 150 percent of the federal poverty level to 200 percent.
About 1.3 million New Yorkers will qualify once the expansion takes effect.
The new legislation, Intro 248-A, would create a faster way for people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as SNAP, or cash assistance to sign up.
People renewing those benefits would be able to opt into Fair Fares by checking a box instead of completing a separate application.
"Fair Fares is an indispensable program, and yet it's underutilized because of a lack of awareness and a complicated application process," Speaker Julie Menin said.
The Department of Social Services would also be required to notify eligible New Yorkers about the streamlined enrollment process and make efforts to obtain information from state agencies to identify other people who may qualify.
The legislation also requires the department to report annually to the City Council on Fair Fares enrollment and use.
The bill requires the Department of Social Services to study whether the City could automatically enroll New Yorkers in Fair Fares and other city-administered benefit programs.
Council Member Crystal Hudson, who sponsored the legislation, said the goal is to eliminate unnecessary paperwork for people already receiving city benefits.
The expanded Fair Fares program will cover New York City residents ages 18 to 64 whose household income falls at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
For example, a single person earning up to $31,920 a year or a family of four earning up to $66,000 could qualify under the expanded income limits.
Fair Fares cuts subway, eligible bus and Access-A-Ride fares by 50 percent.
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