Testimony: Expanding Fair Fares to Reflect the True Cost of Living in New York City
Rachel Swaner
Before the NYC Council Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Thank you to Chairperson Brooks-Powers and to all the Committee members for this opportunity. My name is Rachel Swaner, and I am the Vice President of Policy, Research, and Advocacy at the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), an organization dedicated to helping everyday New Yorkers achieve economic security and well-being, leading to a stronger and more equitable New York.
Right now, too many New Yorkers are struggling to stay afloat. Our recent Annual Survey of Housing and Economic Security, fielded just this past September and October and capturing the experiences of 2,000 city residents, found that 40 percent couldn’t make ends meet or were barely managing to get by. Over a quarter (27 percent) said they rely on short-term debt like credit cards and online cash advances to cover expenses, and 28 percent said they could not or probably could not come up with $400 to cover an emergency expense.
Among those making 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less, the picture is more dire: 63 percent of low-income New Yorkers reported they couldn’t make ends meet or were barely managing to get by, and over half (52 percent) said they couldn’t or probably couldn’t come up with $400 for an emergency.
The Federal Poverty Level is an important benchmark, but it does not reflect the true cost of living in New York City. The same threshold applies whether you live in rural Mississippi or midtown Manhattan, even though housing, childcare, and food costs here are among the highest in the nation. As a result, the federal measure masks the real extent of economic need in high-cost cities like ours. In New York City, a family can earn triple the federal poverty level and still struggle to afford basic necessities.
And one of the most essential of those necessities is transportation. An accessible and affordable mass transit system is the backbone of the city’s economy, enabling millions of New Yorkers to move efficiently from place to place, supporting local businesses, reducing congestion, and ensuring equitable access to opportunities. For many low-income New Yorkers, the cost of an OMNY card can be a barrier to getting to their job, school, or medical appointments. Expanding Fair Fares eligibility from 150 percent to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level would reach an additional 377,615 residents who are working hard but still facing financial precarity. At a time when costs for housing, utilities, and food continue to rise, this expansion would be a concrete, targeted measure to help our neighbors.
CSS strongly supports Resolution 0964 as an essential step toward transit equity. Expanding Fair Fares eligibility to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level will make a meaningful difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are currently just above the cutoff but still facing economic insecurity.
At the same time, we know the need extends even further. CSS ultimately envisions a Fair Fares program that offers free transit for New Yorkers at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, and discounted fares for those up to 300 percent. We view this resolution as progress toward that broader goal—a foundation on which to continue building a truly inclusive and affordable transit system for all.
We urge you to support Resolution 0964 to expand Fair Fares eligibility to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Thank you again for allowing me to present this testimony. Please reach out to me at rswaner@cssny.org if you have any questions.