A recent survey has revealed that approximately one in five public transportation users in New York City struggles to afford the $3 fare required to ride the subway or bus. The findings indicate significant disparities in transportation costs across different ethnic groups and boroughs, with Asian passengers reporting the lowest percentage of those unable to pay. In stark contrast, residents of the Bronx are facing the most acute challenges regarding transportation expenses.
The Community Service Society (CSS), a non-profit organization focused on combating poverty, released its 2026 Housing and Economic Security Survey in November. This comprehensive survey illustrates that 20% of New York City residents who rely on public transportation are unable to afford the fare when they need to travel.
Conducted between August 26 and September 23 of this year, the survey engaged 4,111 adult residents of New York state, among which 2,027 lived in New York City. Out of the city respondents, 1,837 public transportation users were included in the analysis.
When breaking down the results by ethnicity, the survey found that 30% of Hispanic respondents reported difficulties in affording transit fares. The percentages for Black non-Hispanics and White respondents were 27% and 12%, respectively, while 10% of Asian respondents indicated similar struggles.
Analyzing the data by borough, the Bronx emerged with the highest percentage of individuals facing fare affordability problems at 29%, followed by Manhattan and Staten Island at 21% each. Brooklyn reported 18%, and Queens was at 15%.
The survey also highlighted that the burden of transportation costs does not solely affect those who are unemployed or low-income. Of the respondents who reported being unable to pay fares, 51% were employed, including 26% who held full-time jobs. Moreover, 29% of those who struggled with transit costs had household incomes exceeding 200% of the federal poverty line and thus did not qualify under the current Fair Fares program, which offers half-priced transit for low-income residents.
In a significant policy shift this year, New York City raised the income eligibility threshold for the Fair Fares program from 150% to 200% of the federal poverty line. This adjustment is expected to extend the program’s benefits to an additional 340,000 residents, increasing the total number of eligible users to about 1.3 million.
However, Rachel Swaner, Vice President of Policy Research at CSS, argues that there is a pressing need to expand eligibility for the fare discount program further, extending it to those earning up to 300% of the federal poverty line. She also suggests that free transportation should be provided for the most impoverished residents, defined as those earning below 150% of the poverty line.
Furthermore, Swaner points out that the issue of transportation costs has permeated beyond just low-income families. She advocates for universal measures aimed at alleviating this burden, such as the implementation of free bus rides citywide. Such initiatives could provide much-needed relief to all residents struggling with transportation expenses, fostering greater accessibility across New York City.