NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Mayor Eric Adams said on Wednesday that the Fair Fares program is starting to switch to OMNY, the MTA’s tap-to-pay system which would make it simpler for low-income New Yorkers to get cheaper transit fares.
“By bringing our world-class Fair Fares program onto the MTA’s digital OMNY system, we are making it even easier for working-class New Yorkers to access discounted rides on our trains and on our buses,” Adams said.
The switch to OMNY will help Fair Fares users better manage transit funds while saving money through automatic fare capping, ensuring participants never pay more than $17 per week when using their OMNY card, according to Adams.
The transition coincides with the second Fair Fares income eligibility expansion, which raises the threshold from 120% to 145% of the federal poverty level, making nearly 200,000 more New Yorkers eligible for half-priced fares.
In the first phase, the discount will apply to Fair Fares-issued OMNY cards. New enrollees will receive an OMNY card instead of a MetroCard and can start using it right away for the subway and eligible buses after adding funds.
The Fair Fares discount is available to New Yorkers between the ages of 18 and 64 years old, regardless of immigration status, whose income falls at or below 145 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
New Yorkers can visit the Fair Fares website to check if they are eligible for the program, as well as apply online and begin saving 50 percent on subway and eligible bus fares or MTA Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.