Assemblymember Grace Lee Provides Educational Resources on MTA’s OMNY Program Expansions for Lower East Side Residents

Assemblymember Lee hosted an informational session for residents of Masaryk Towers in Lower Manhattan on the MTA’s expansion of its OMNY program to all customer groups, including its over 1.5 million Reduced-Fares and Fair-Fares MetroCard users

July 26, 2024

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New York, NY – On Thursday, July 25, 2024, Assemblymember Grace Lee and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) co-hosted a presentation on the One Metro New York (OMNY) reduced-fare program at the United Jewish Council of the East Side (UJCES) NORC at Masaryk Towers. The presentation, given by MTA Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations Alberto Roldan, explained how OMNY, the MTA's tap-and-go payment system, works and the beneﬁts and discounts for seniors in the community. Reduced-Fares, an age and ability-based discount program, and Fair Fares, an income-based discount program, have both provided subway and bus users with a 50% discount for years. Now, discount customers will have access to the tap-and-go system as the MTA pushes to extend the reach of OMNY. All existing Reduced-Fare MetroCard customers will receive an OMNY card mailed to them by the end of 2024. The event included language interpretation in Chinese and Spanish.

The event was co-hosted with the oﬃces of Senator Brian Kavanagh, Councilmember Carlina Rivera and Congressman Dan Goldman. Representatives from the oﬃces of Congressman Goldman, Senator Kavanagh, and Councilmember Rivera were in attendance.

“Making public transportation more accessible is essential for creating a more equitable New York City,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “OMNY’s inclusion of the Fair Fares and Reduced-Fares programs provide crucial discounts to eligible residents, helping ease the ﬁnancial burden of commuting. I thank OMNY and Masaryk Towers for working with my oﬃce to educate our seniors about these programs and look forward to continuing our work to ensure all New Yorkers can beneﬁt from accessible transportation.”

"By integrating the Fair-Fare and Reduced-Fare programs with the OMNY tap-and-go system, the MTA has made our transit system more accessible and ensured that all New Yorkers can utilize our world-class transportation network," said Congressman Dan Goldman. "I commend Assemblymember Lee for ensuring New Yorkers are aware of this new integration that will help make getting around our City more aﬀordable. As commuters face rising costs, this initiative provides crucial support to the millions of riders who depend on our subways and buses for daily travel."

“The Fair Fares program provides a critical lifeline to tens of thousands of New Yorkers, and it is important that those who qualify for reduced fares are able to use OMNY, the MTA’s tap-and-go payment system,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “By cutting transit costs in half for neighbors who need it the most, we create more opportunity and improve quality of life for everyone. I’m proud to partner with Assemblymember Grace Lee to raise awareness about the reduced-fare OMNY program.”

“Our partnership with Assemblymember Lee and the MTA to host this event reﬂects our dedication to empowering our residents with the tools they need for modern urban living,” said Elaine Castro, UJCES Director of the Masaryk Towers NORC. “It’s about bringing valuable services directly to their doorstep.”