12 FEBRUARY 24, 2022 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Take advantage of ‘Fair Fares’
For all the talk about infl ation and
the city’s ongoing recovery from
the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a
city need to pound the drum harder
about ways to cut costs.
Some 750,000 New Yorkers are eligible
right now to receive half-priced
unlimited MetroCards through the
“Fair Fares” program. Some say even
more working-class residents of the
city are also deserving of discounted
fares; they argue the city and the MTA
should work together to expand it.
Noble as that goal is, there’s just one
problem: Not enough eligible New
Yorkers are applying for the program
as it is. Just over 250,000 people have
applied for it, or about a third of all
eligible residents.
The proponents say it’s not because
of a lack of want in New York City; it’s
simply a lack of communication and
promotion. Mayor Eric Adams recently
vowed to change that dynamic,
saying that the city government would
do more to promote the Fair Fares program
and ensure that every eligible
New Yorker who wants a discounted
MetroCard can get one.
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Just over 250,000 people have applied for the Fair Fares program, or about a third of all eligible residents.
Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit
And why shouldn’t they? The
providing a little more relief in an
savings are tremendous. A 30-day
economy that constantly puts tremendous
unlimited MetroCard costs $127;
strain on their wallets.
Fair Fares cuts that price in half, to
We’ve covered the Fair Fares
$63.50. Multiply that by 12 months in
program numerous times over the
a year, and the cardholder saves $762
past year, and we believe it can be of
annually on their transportation
great benefi t to New Yorkers in the
costs.
most need, at minimal cost to the city
Every dollar saved is a dollar
taxpayer.
earned for a New Yorker living on a
The $75 million commitment the
low or fi xed income. They can turn
Adams administration is making toward
around and use those saved dollars
Fair Fares represents just 0.076%
toward paying for other necessities,
of the mayor’s proposed $98 billion
budget for the next fi scal year. Talk
about bang for your buck.
Applications for the Fair Fares
program are open now, and we encourage
eligible New Yorkers to sign
up today. Visit nyc.gov/fairfares to
check your eligibility and submit an
application.
It’s your money and your city. Take
advantage of this golden opportunity
to save a few bucks while you ride the
greatest public transportation system
in the world.
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