NYC council members, transit advocates call for expansion of Fair Fares eligibility
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Some New York City Council members and transit advocates are urging Mayor Eric Adams to expand the eligibility the Fair Fares program.
They held a rally at City Hall on Tuesday morning.
The Fair Fare program provides reduced-priced MetroCards for New Yorkers living below the federal property level.
The program currently looks to help families of four who make $37,440 a year. Advocates want the eligibility changed to $60,000 a year for a family of four.
About 325,000 New Yorkers use the Fair Fares program now.
An advisory committee says 650,000 additional New Yorkers would qualify if the program is expanded.
"With minimum wage at $16 an hour in our city, paying nearly $6 to go to work or school can be a heavy burden on working New Yorkers, a reduced fare provides much-needed relief for low-income New Yorkers feeling the brunt of our affordability crisis," said NYC Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala.
The City Council speaker says people living in the outer boroughs would benefit most from the expansion to the reduced fare program.
She says the change will cost the city $55 million.
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