‘Fair fares’: get half-off NYC subway, bus fares with qualifying income

Emily Rahhal
·2 min read
4
‘Fair fares’: get half-off NYC subway, bus fares with qualifying income

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Some qualifying New Yorkers can get 50 percent off subway and bus fares through the city’s Fair Fares program – and the city is hosting sign up events Thursday to get residents started.

Only New York City residents between the ages of 18 and 64 can apply for the discounted MetroCards, and an individual would need to make under $18,072 annually to qualify, according to the MTA. For a household of two, that maximum income jumps to $24,528. For a family of three, the maximum is $30,984.

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And on Thursday, sign up events will be held across the city including:

  • The Bronx: 161 St-Yankee Stadium B/D/4 station from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

  • Brooklyn: Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 station from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

  • Manhattan: 116 St 6 station from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

  • Queens: Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av/74 St-Broadway E/F/R/7 station from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

  • Staten Island: St. George SIR station from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The median income for a New York City household of two in 2023 was $113,000, according to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. For a household of three, $127,100.

Fair Fares’ qualifications are based on federal lines which put the poverty threshold at $15,060 for individuals and $25,820 for a family of three in 2024, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The program was expanded in 2023 to include more New Yorkers, but many electeds and advocates, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, have called for the Fair Fares program to include even more locals by softening the income requirements.

“This investment will not only benefit the New Yorkers who are eligible, but also in turn make our city a brighter place for all by helping those get to work or school without having to worry about how they’ll get there,” said city officials of the 2023 investment in the program.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered local news for years. She has been with PIX11 since 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.

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