Mayor unveils plan for ‘Fair Fares’ MetroCard program

Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled plans to give low-income New Yorkers a discount on their MetroCards.
The city Department of Social Services started contacting 30,000 working New York residents Friday morning who are eligible for the so-called "Fair Fares" MetroCard program.
"This is the first time ever that a huge number of New Yorkers are going to have the reduced fare open to them on a regular basis," says the mayor.
During phase one of the plan, the city will allow New Yorkers who are at or below the federal poverty level who are receiving cash assistance or supplemental nutrition assistance to receive discounted MetroCards.
They will be eligible to buy unlimited weekly and monthly passes for half price at MetroCard vending machines.
Phase 2 of the plan will be rolled out in April and benefit an additional 130,000 working New Yorkers.
Anyone that that wasn’t contacted by Social Services that believes they qualify for the program can call 311 for more information.