New Yorkers will now be able to apply for reduced transit fares using an IDNYC municipal identification card, potentially opening up half-price fares for scores of low-income and immigrant New Yorkers, the MTA announced on Thursday.
The announcement means those with an IDNYC — which is available to anyone over 10 years of age who supplies proof of residency, regardless of their immigration status — can apply for the MTA’s half-price fares on subways and buses available to seniors and people with disabilities. The move also allows passengers on Access-a-Ride, a subscription service for disabled New Yorkers, to use IDNYC to establish their identity when boarding.
“Today we’re telling our immigrant communities, our New Yorkers, and all New Yorkers that they belong in our system, no matter your racial background, no matter your immigration status,” said Quemuel Arroyo, the MTA’s Chief Accessibility Officer, at a press conference near Immigrant Heritage Plaza in lower Manhattan. “I know that is a game changer for many families who have to choose between paying the fare and buying food.
Thursday’s announcement does not apply to Fair Fares, a city-administered benefit for low-income New Yorkers. Those applying for Fair Fares have always been able to use IDNYC as identification, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services confirmed. IDNYC, launched in 2015, is a municipal identification card that allows holders to access the same services, like employment verification or affordable housing eligibility, as those carrying a driver’s license . Notably, it is available to all New Yorkers, including undocumented immigrants, whose population was
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