COMBING Co-op City Times

NYC Announces Additional $20 Million Investment to Expand Fair Fares

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

New York City announced a $20 million investment to expand its Fair Fares program earlier this month.

On December 15, 2023, Mayor Adams joined NYC City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wascow Park to announce expansion of the program as well as a significant update to the program’s eligibility requirements.

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HCR Carrying Charge Increase Comment Deadline

Shareholders who wish to submit written comments to the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) on Riverbay’s application for a carrying charge increase effective April 1, 2024, may do so on or before January 29, 2024. Written comments can be emailed to George.simon@hcr. ny.gov or mailed to George Simon, Office of Integrated Housing Management, Division of Housing and Community Renewal, 641 Lexington Avenue, 4th Fl. East, New York, NY 10022.

Next CB #10 Meeting

The next General Board meeting and public hearing of CB #10 will take place on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 at 7 p.m. at Jeanne Jugan Residence, 2999 Schurz Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465. For additional information, you may contact CB#10 at (718) 892-1161 or by email: bx10@cb.nyc.gov.

Contacting the Riverbay Call Center

Riverbay Management has heard your concerns regarding “How do I reach the Call Center?” and will update the phone prompts to make the process easier and more direct.

Currently, callers to Riverbay’s main line, (718) 320-3300, select option #2 to be directed to Maintenance, Restorations and Inspections.

Once the phone prompt recording is updated, Option #2 will be dedicated to the Call Center, which will include Maintenance, Restorations and Inspections.

Happy New Year to all cooperators from the Management and staff of Riverbay Corp.

The $20 million investment builds off of the $75 million that was already allotted in the Fiscal Year 2023 city budget. Additional funding will allow the program to expand its eligibility to include more people.

Previously, participants were only eligible for Fair Fares if their max income fell within a range of up to 100% of the federal poverty level. With the additional funding, the program opened up its eligibility for the first time by 20%, meaning participant income must fall within 120% of the federal poverty level.

Here are the highest income totals a household can have based on the numbers of members living there and still qualify for the Fair Fares program, according to the Mayor’s Office:

• One-person household: $17,496

• Two-person household: $23,664

• Three-person household: $29,832

• Four-person household: $36,000

• Five-person household: $42,168

• Six-person household: $48,336

Fair Fares is a program that offers a 50% discount on

MTA buses, subways and Access-A-Ride paratransit trips for New Yorkers between 18 and 64 years old. The MTA reported that roughly 300,000 people are enrolled and utilize the Fair Fares program, a number the agency expects to climb with the latest investment for expansion.

Mayor Adams spoke about the importance of the program as a necessary resource for New Yorkers and its contribution to helping the city recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“New York City has recovered all of the nearly one million jobs lost during the pandemic, and public transit is a key component of building on that momentum and ensuring that our recovery continues to be inclusive for working families. The $20 million we are investing — in partnership with the City Council — coupled with the program expansion will ensure even more New Yorkers can keep more money in their pockets while making the Fair Fares program — and our city’s public transportation system — more accessible, so additional New Yorkers can utilize this critical discount to commute to work, visit friends and family, access medical care, get to class, and enjoy all our great city has to offer,” Mayor Adams said during the announcement of the program expansion.

Individuals interested in signing up for the Fair Fares program can do so online at nyc.gov/site/fairfares/index. page, by calling 311, or by visiting a Fair Fares office. The Bronx Fair Fares office is located at 888 Garrison Avenue, 3rd floor, Bronx, NY 10474. Fair Fares offices are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.