NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — New Yorkers who apply for and are recipients of assistance programs could find themselves auto-enrolled for discounted fares for MTA buses and subways, under a proposed New York City Council bill.
Intro 0248-2026, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, would require the Commissioner of Social Services to establish auto-enrollment for the MTA’s Fair Fares program. Enrollment would be based on applications and records for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and cash assistance.
City Council members say the bill aims to address under-enrollment in the Fair Fare program, which offers a 50% discount on transit rides for low-income New Yorkers. As of Sept. 2026, about 378,073 New Yorkers were enrolled in the Fair Fares program. Any individual who makes at least $31,920 a year and any family of four that makes $66,000 a year qualifies for the discount…