What the MTA says about expanding OMNY student passes 

The MTA recently held a media roundtable at the Jamaica Central Control Building in Queens. In attendance were MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow, Senior Advisor for Communications and Policy and Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara, and LIRR President Rob Free. 

Epicenter NYC joined the meeting to ask questions that are important to our readers, including the OMNY card initiative. Starting this school year, OMNY cards are free to students unless they live within a half mile of the school or receive bussing through their individualized education plans (IEPs). Parents of children who don’t get OMNY cards say it’s unfair, as the cards also offer discounts on travel and programs students can benefit from. 

The answers from the MTA officials were lightly edited and condensed.

Question: For students who live within a half mile of the school or are otherwise ineligible for student OMNY cards, are there any plans to support students not just getting to school but with extracurricular activities and other elements of student life?

Shanifah Rieara:

We have received [comments]from a lot of those families who are not eligible. It’s actually the DOE that sets the eligibility criteria, not the MTA. 

Since we have been hearing feedback from some of the families who are within walking distance to the school, but still want to reap the benefits, whether they have after-school jobs or participate in after-school activities, we’re going to embark in a conversation with DOE to see what can be done to include those students as well. 

So conversations are very preliminary, but it is something that we’re looking into. 

Janno Lieber:

It’s a good sign that people are excited about the OMNY student pass. No one got excited about bus passes in the past because you could only use them at certain times of day, certain parts of the year. Now it’s 24/7, 365 [days a year], four rides a day (used to be three), people are excited because it helps kids really use the city and get around. 

Now, part of the reason we’re doing this is we want to get the students in the habit of having and swiping and being MTA customers, not get in the habit of fare evasion. 

So it might be useful for everybody to have this, but the city is the one who has to decide who they’re giving it to.

What does the DOE say?

Epicenter NYC also reached out to the DOE for comment. While the department did not respond to our direct question, we did receive this response from Jenna Lyle, deputy press secretary at the NYC Department of Education:

“We’re thrilled that we’re partnering with the MTA to provide Student OMNY cards that can be used four times a day, 365 days a year. As we continue to review options for future access, we appreciate all feedback from our families and school communities.”