Officials, NYC residents celebrate MTA Fare Free program
The initiative begins in late September for commuters across the five boroughs.
More Stories
Elected officials and city residents showed their excitement on Thursday for the incoming Fare Free from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The MTA program will allow one bus line from each borough to be free of charge for a period of six to 12 months. The move comes because of negotiations in this year's state budget. Although an official date hasn't been announced, the program will go into effect sometime in late September.
"This is the beginning of a new day in New York City,” said Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani.
The five bus lines are the Bx18 A and B, the B60 in Brooklyn, Q4 in queens, M116 in Manhattan, and the S46/96 in Staten Island.
"I take public transportation a lot, and it will be a really big help. And not only for me, but for the whole community,” said Bronx resident Max Rodriguez.
With this program there are no free transfers. After the trial period is over, the metrics of the pilot program will be evaluated to determine if it will be included in next year's state budget.
