NYC’s ‘Fair Fares’ program won’t kick in for 70% of low-income residents until 2020
“The majority of low-income New Yorkers will have to wait until 2020 to get half-price MetroCards through the city’s new Fair Fares program. Mayor de Blasio finally announced the timeline for the initiative’s roll out Monday night, following months of criticism over delays and lack of transparency. The roughly 130,000 people who live below the poverty line and receive cash assistance or SNAP benefits will be able to apply for the discounted rides through an online portal in April. The program will open up to low-income CUNY students, veterans and NYCHA residents on a to-be-determined date ‘in the fall,’ adding another 84,000 potential applicants.”