Governor Cuomo Unveils Comprehensive Affordable Transportation Plan
The cost to access our City’s vast and incredible public transportation system should never be an obstacle to those who depend on it most. We must take decisive action to help ensure that transit remains accessible and safe for all.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today outlined a series of bold proposals aimed at addressing the rising transportation costs that have burdened New Yorkers, particularly in low-income communities. The plan for action comes as transportation prices in New York City have soared by approximately 25 percent from 2019 to 2023. The steep rise in costs has affected the daily commute of countless residents, further adding to the affordability crisis already impacting New York City.
This is part of a broad Affordability Agenda designed to address the rising costs facing New Yorkers. This plan tackles the critical economic challenges New Yorkers face daily.
“The cost to access our City’s vast and incredible public transportation system should never be an obstacle to those who depend on it most,” Governor Cuomo said. “Transportation is a lifeline for the 8.6 million people in New York City, and rising costs have made it even harder for those already struggling. We must take decisive action to help ensure that transit remains accessible and safe for all.”
Key Components of Governor Cuomo’s Transportation Plan
- Expand Fair Fares NYC Enrollment: Fair Fares NYC, a program launched in 2019, offers a 50 percent discount on subway and local bus rides for low-income residents. While the program has helped many, only about 331,000 of the 800,000 eligible New Yorkers are currently enrolled. Governor Cuomo has called for a robust expansion of outreach efforts to ensure that all eligible New Yorkers are aware of and can easily access the program.
- Evaluate the Expansion of the Fare-Free Bus Pilot Program: The MTA’s fare-free bus pilot, which launched in 2023 on five key bus routes, has seen encouraging results, including a 30 percent increase in weekday ridership and a 38 percent increase in weekend ridership. Additionally, the removal of fareboxes has led to a 39 percent drop in assaults on bus operators, highlighting the safety benefits of the initiative. Governor Andrew Cuomo is calling for further exploration into expanding this pilot program across more bus routes in New York City.
- Balancing Affordability and Financial Sustainability: While both programs have shown promise in increasing access to transportation, Governor Cuomo recognizes that any expansion must be balanced with the need to maintain the financial health of the MTA. He has urged city and state leaders to carefully evaluate funding models to ensure the sustainability of both the transit system and the affordability initiatives.
Throughout his career in public service, Governor Cuomo has been a champion for working New Yorkers. He raised wages for millions of workers, passed the strongest gun violence prevention and paid family leave laws in the nation, advanced the most substantial infrastructure program in a generation, including the Second Avenue Subway, the Moynihan Train Hall, the new Kosciuszko Bridge and the new JFK and LaGuardia airports and codified Roe vs. Wade in state law years before the Supreme Court overturned it, all while cutting taxes and reining in spending.
###