City budget raises Fair Fares eligibility to 120% of federal poverty line, but less than City Council and MTA wanted

By Ben Brachfeld

Posted on June 29, 2023

The $107 billion city budget that Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council agreed upon Thursday expands the Fair Fares half-price MetroCard program to more low-income New Yorkers — although still far short of the expansion sought by the Council, advocates, and MTA leadership, who hoped it would cover a larger swathe of the low-income population.

The budget commits $95 million in funding for Fair Fares, a $20 million increase over last year, and increases the eligibility threshold from those making 100% of the federal poverty line to 120%. The $95 million is a “baseline” upon which future expansions can be added.