City's Fair Fares Program May Fall Short of Funds This Year
The city’s discount transit ticket program, Fair Fares, is getting a boost in this year’s budget. But it may not be enough to meet the new demand.
It took four years of advocacy to get Mayor de Blasio to agree to the $106 million program to provide low-income New Yorkers with half-priced MetroCards.
During last year’s budget crisis, the mayor cut the funding in half.
This year, he’s adding $10 million more, but that only leaves the program with $55 million for the year.
Economists with the Community Service Society say it will likely fall short by nearly $20 million, as more New Yorkers attempt to re-enter the job market, and need to travel more. They say the city should be prepared to pump in more money.
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