Some CUNY Students Are Set to Get Cheaper Subway Rides

In a few weeks, some CUNY students will qualify for half-price subway and bus fares. But many of those students aren’t aware of the upcoming discounts.

“I never heard about it,” said Dilchand Nauth, 23, an environmental engineering master’s student at the City College of New York, one of the 11 colleges in the CUNY system. “If you get half price, you can use that for lunch,” said Nauth, who commutes about 75 minutes to campus from Queens.

The discount is part of Fair Fares, the city’s new program to slash transportation costs for low-income residents. Launched in January, the program in its second phase and is targeting certain CUNY students, veteran students and city Housing Authority residents. Next year, the 50% fare reduction will be expanded to other low-income residents.

There are about 274,000 CUNY students city-wide. Single students who live in the city and make less than $12,000 annually can qualify for the reduced fares. Income thresholds rise for larger households.

Brandon Tapia, 18, a freshman at the City College, said he also wasn’t aware of the discount. “It’ll be pretty good for us,” he said.

Although only CUNY students are eligible for the discount this fall, other college students may benefit in future years.

Rebecca Bailin, political director for Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group that campaigned for Fair Fares, said the discount is being phased in gradually.

“The city is trying to make sure that once it’s fully rolled out in January … it’s done properly with as few glitches as possible,” she told Transit New York.

According to the mayor’s office, 64,779 residents who are receiving cash and food benefits have been enrolled in the program.

Kenny Owoeye, 21, an electrical engineering student at City College, said he doesn’t think he’ll qualify. “It doesn’t benefit me,” he said. “But that might change. They might make it accessible for all CUNY students.”