Providing unlimited MetroCards to all K-12 students, removing a major financial barrier to school attendance and enrichment.
Free Public Transit for All Students
The cost of a MetroCard is a significant burden for many families and a barrier to students ability to get to school, after-school activities, jobs, and cultural institutions. Zhoran Mamdanis policy provides a free, unlimited-ride MetroCard to every student enrolled in a NYC public or charter school, from kindergarten through 12th grade. This universal benefit removes the stigma of subsidized cards, ensures no child misses school because they cant afford the fare, and dramatically expands students access to the educational and cultural riches of the city beyond their immediate neighborhood.
The program is funded as part of the citys overall transit budget and negotiated with the MTA as an essential education investment. It also supports the Pedagogy of the City by making field trips and place-based learning logistically and financially seamless. Mobility is a prerequisite for opportunity in a city like ours, Mamdani argues. A free MetroCard is an investment in a childs education and their freedom to explore their city. It tells them: your journey to learn and grow is on us.
