Taking public transportation will soon be easier for New York City public school students. City officials on Tuesday announced Student OMNY cards will replace MetroCards, allowing for tap-and-go trips on the subway and bus. Plus, the new cards will be valid for four free rides per day, 24 hours a day, all year long. Previously, student MetroCards were limited to three free rides a day, from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and only on days when school was open.
“These expanded student OMNY cards are a gamechanger for families across New York City, particularly for working-class families that need just a little more help to afford our city — families where older siblings pick their younger brothers and sisters up from school, or where kids have after-school and summer jobs to help make ends meet,” Mayor Eric Adams said.
Students can use the OMNY cards on the subway, local, limited, and select buses, the Staten Island Railway, the Roosevelt Island Tram, and the Hudson Rail link. It also includes free transfers from one service to another.
Schools will distribute the cards to students at the start of this upcoming school year. Students will also receive promotional flyers detailing the benefits of the program. The MTA and public school system will work together to track and further promote card usage across the five boroughs.
The MTA plans to incorporate student OMNY cards into phones by next year, allowing students to add OMNY cards to digital wallets and use mobile devices to tap and go.
“Providing students with tools to use public transit seamlessly teaches them that the system is easy, efficient, and cost effective,” MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said. “New York City students have busy schedules and we’re making it as easy as possible for them to navigate their schoolwork and activities with more rides all year round.”
Eligibility for student fare cards depends on the student’s grade level, walking distance between home and school, and other factors like medical conditions, housing status, and safety. More about transportation eligibility can be found here.
The expansion of student OMNY cards builds upon Adams’ broader effort to make public transit access more accessible and affordable. Earlier this month, an additional $10.7 million in funding was set aside in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the Fair Fares program, increasing the program’s eligibility from 120 percent to 145 percent of the federal poverty level.
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