{"id":3316,"date":"2026-10-30T16:17:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T20:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=3316"},"modified":"2026-10-30T16:17:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T20:17:39","slug":"new-york-city-council-and-cuny-announce-99-uptake-for-omny-pilot-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2026\/10\/30\/3316\/","title":{"rendered":"New York City Council and CUNY Announce 99% Uptake for OMNY Pilot Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

693 of 700 unlimited transit cards have been distributed to CUNY students, funded by $700k secured by the Council<\/em><\/p>\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> \u2013 The New York City Council and the City University of New York (CUNY) today announced that the CUNY OMNY Pilot Program \u2014 which provides free, unlimited OMNY cards to CUNY students through funding secured by the Council \u2014 saw a 99% uptake for the program\u2019s inaugural roll out.<\/p>\n

An initial 700 CUNY students were selected to participate in the pilot program. Now, 693 students have picked up their unlimited transit cards\u2014totaling 99% of program cards. Students were given the opportunity to pick up their cards, which are now active for daily use, at a designated location on their respective campuses.<\/p>\n

Speaker Julie Menin first announced the news of the program\u2019s success today at City & State\u2019s Transportation in New York Summit, where she and Majority Leader Shaun Abreu spoke about the importance of affordable, reliable transportation. Last month, Speaker Menin and Majority Leader Abreu launched the program<\/a> alongside CUNY Chancellor F\u00e9lix V. Matos Rodr\u00edguez, the CUNY University Student Senate, and others.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though transit is an essential service for the millions of New Yorkers who navigate the city every single day, rising costs present a major barrier, particularly for students who already have to cover tuition fees and may otherwise have limited sources of income,\u201d said Speaker Julie Menin.<\/strong> \u201cThat\u2019s why the Council is thrilled that 99% of the cards have been picked up by students who can now travel to and from school every day without having to worry if they can afford to attend class. And we hope that with nearly 30,000 interested students, this initial program success will allow us to expand the initiative in future years to put more of our city\u2019s learners on a path to job security and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith nearly every OMNY card made available through the CUNY OMNY Pilot Program already in the hands of CUNY students, participants can now focus on what our campuses have to offer rather than how to get there,\u201d said CUNY Chancellor F\u00e9lix V. Matos Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>. \u201cCUNY is dedicated to ensuring that students have the support they need to stay focused on their education, and we are grateful to Speaker Menin and the City Council for investing in our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited that our program is already in action and making a difference for CUNY students,\u201d said Majority Leader Sean Abreu.<\/strong> \u201cThe fact that 99% of students enrolled for free OMNY cards have already picked them up is proof of the demand for affordable transportation. This is an initiative I was proud to deliver alongside Speaker Menin, and I look forward to more to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participating students are Pell-eligible, enrolled full-time with at least 12 credits in both the fall and spring semesters, and taking a minimum of two in-person courses \u2014 and cannot receive transportation support through other programs. Of the approximately 54,000 CUNY students who met these eligibility criteria, more than 28,500 completed an interest form distributed by email\u2014another metric demonstrating a widespread need for and interest in this program.<\/p>\n

Participating students were given a physical OMNY card configured for unlimited usage, active from October 5 through December 25, 2026, for the fall semester, and a 120-day unlimited pass covering the full spring semester beginning January 28, 2027. Students will have the option to add their cards to a virtual wallet once the MTA introduces that capability, projected for the end of 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy including $700,000 in funding to support free OMNY cards for students that need them most, we are eliminating barriers to higher education and helping students access opportunities that help them move up the economic ladder,\u201d said Council Member Harvey Epstein.<\/strong> \u201cGovernment services are only as strong as their ability to meet people where they are. Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Menin and my colleagues, 99% of the students selected for the CUNY OMNY Pilot Program are using their free OMNY cards today. This speaks to just how essential this program is to our communities and why we must continue investing in resources that make education more accessible and opportunity more equitable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe data released today proves, beyond doubt, not just the demand, but the need for transportation assistance for CUNY students,\u201d said Council Member Rita Joseph.<\/strong> \u201cCUNY students are our future, a future dependent on their success. <\/strong>While we\u2019ve understood the barrier the cost of transportation presents for NYCPS students, we had not previously recognized that same barrier amongst our CUNY students. I\u2019m proud that this Council took meaningful steps to rectify this issue and I look forward to expanding this program.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor 3 years, the University Student Senate has advocated for transportation accessibility because no student should have to choose between getting to class and meeting their basic needs,\u201d said The CUNY University Student Senate.<\/strong> \u201c693 CUNY students have received free OMNY cards through a pilot program made possible by the New York City Council\u2019s investment. This is more than a transportation initiative; it is a meaningful step toward educational equity and student success. While we celebrate this milestone, our work is far from over. Providing OMNY cards to 693 CUNY students is an important step forward, but much more is needed to make transportation accessible for all CUNY students. Our goal continues to remain clear: ensuring that every CUNY student has access to affordable, reliable transportation.\u201d<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

693 of 700 unlimited transit cards have been distributed to CUNY students, funded by $700k secured by the Council<\/em><\/p>\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> \u2013 The New York City Council and the City University of New York (CUNY) today announced that the CUNY OMNY Pilot Program \u2014 which provides free, unlimited OMNY cards to CUNY students through funding secured by the Council \u2014 saw a 99% uptake for the program\u2019s inaugural roll out.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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