Borough President Hoylman-Sigal, CM’s Marte and Restler, Riders Alliance, the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, and Students Rally for Expanded Student OMNY Cards

Around 500,000 students currently do not receive Student OMNY Cards.

11 supportive resolutions have been passed by a collection of Community Education Councils, High School Presidents' Councils, and the Citywide Council on High Schools. Resolutions are pending in another six groups, including the Panel for Educational Policy.

NEW YORK — Today, New York City students with Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Council Members Christopher Marte and Lincoln Restler, Transportation Alternatives Youth Activist Committee members, Riders Alliance, the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, and the 34th Ave Open Streets Coalition rallied in City Hall Park for an expanded Student OMNY program. 

Under the current program, around 500,000 students do not qualify for Student OMNY Cards at all; the students who do qualify are still limited to only four rides a day, and may face difficulty with card deactivation or reliably getting a new card. Transportation Alternatives’ Youth Activist Committee — a group of New York City students advocating for better transportation for fellow students — is fighting for an expanded Student OMNY Card program that includes a card for every student, unlimited rides, fair communication about deactivations, and a better card-replacement process. 

“All New York City students should have affordable public transportation that is easy to access,” said Juniper Wang, a high school student and campaign lead for Transportation Alternatives’ Youth Activist Committee. “Personally, I had to wait three weeks to get a replacement card when my card was damaged. I was told my school ran out of cards and wasn’t getting a shipment anytime soon. This forces students to pay out of pocket or fare evade and risk the consequences. No student should ever have to make these decisions, and we deserve better.”

The Expand Student OMNY campaign has support across the city. Already, 11 supportive resolutions have been passed by Community and Citywide Education Councils and High School Presidents' Councils. Six other resolutions are pending across CECs and the Panel for Educational Policy. 

“The expansion of Student OMNY Cards was an important step forward, but it’s clear the program still isn’t meeting the needs of all New York City students. Too many young people remain excluded entirely, while others are constrained by arbitrary ride limits or face challenges when their cards are deactivated or lost. If we’re serious about equity and opportunity, we need a system that works for every student — with universal access, unlimited rides, and clear, reliable support. I’m proud to stand with the student advocates leading this effort and will keep pushing to ensure every young New Yorker can get where they need to go without barriers,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. 

Earlier this year, Council Members Alexa Avilés, Christopher Marte, Gale Brewer, Harvey Epstein, Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, alongside Borough Presidents Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Donovan Richards, and Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter in support of the campaign. 

“Our students rely on public transit not just to get to school, but to participate in afterschool programs, internships, and everything else that makes New York City an extraordinary place to grow up. When nearly half of the students are excluded from full access to Student OMNY, it creates unnecessary barriers for families and limits opportunity. We should be making it easier, not harder, for young people to get around safely and reliably, and I wrote to the MTA with issues that need to be addressed. Expanding access, ensuring unlimited rides, and fixing card issues are common-sense steps that will better support students across the city,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. 

"I am proud to support any measure that expands public transportation access for our students. This City has countless free educational opportunities to offer and giving our young people pathways to use those resources will only benefit their education,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés. “The affordability of public transit should never hinder a student's access to crucial experiences and services." 

“Expanding access to OMNY is an investment that can help shape our students’ future,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Our young people should not have to worry about the cost of a subway fare when getting to school, after-school programs, and the activities that help them grow. Our transit system connects our students to opportunity and expanding Student OMNY access helps ensure it’s within reach.”

"We are living in a time when affordability is a major concern for all of our residents, including our students," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "We need to make life more affordable for our students by expanding their OMNY discount program so that all of our young people can get to and from school and our city's other educational and cultural opportunities without having to worry about the cost. Expanding OMNY for our students would be a worthwhile investment in the future of our kids that is sure to pay off handsomely as we enable them to go to and from school and to easily access all our great city has to offer."

“Public transportation is a necessity for all New Yorkers, no matter your age. As someone who grew up having to take the bus and subway nearly two hours to and from school each day, I know firsthand that students rely on our network to make it to class, go to the library, and help run errands for their parents; and unlike most New Yorkers, their full-time job of being a student doesn’t come with a paycheck. I’m proud to advocate for this great initiative that will make costs more equitable and I hope that it is a step toward free public transportation for all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Justin Sanchez.

"The current OMNY program offers 28 rides a week, 52 weeks per year — but students who take yellow buses are limited to 10 rides a week, 36 weeks per year,” said Sara Catalinotto, Co-founder of Parents to Improve School Transportation. “PIST supports expanding the program and making it more inclusive and accessible."

"At YVote, we believe that civic engagement starts with the ability to show up. For many NYC students, the cost and limitations of transit are direct barriers to participating in community organizing, internships, and the very civic life that defines our city,” said Randy Frazer, Executive Director of YVote. “Expanding Student OMNY isn't just a transportation fix; it’s an investment in the next generation of active, mobile citizens."

"The Office of Neighborhood Safety's Youth Leadership Council brings together young people from 30 different NYCHA developments from all five Boroughs to advocate for public safety and youth development,” said Jennifer Tang, Research Director at the Office of Neighborhood Safety's Youth Leadership Council. “Expanding student OMNY is one tangible way to improve young people's ability to access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive, including participating in community change and youth advocacy activities such as the ONS YLC and TAYAC."