It will now be easier and more affordable for public school students to get to and from school and after-school activities via public transportation.
Starting the 2024-2025 school year, students will receive Student OMNY cards valid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with up to four free rides a day, according to a news release.
These changes will expand flexibility for student travel, as students were previously limited to only three free rides each day from only 5:30am to 8:30pm, and the cards could only be used on days when the student’s school was open for class.
“These expanded student OMNY cards are a gamechanger for families across New York City, particularly for working-class families that need just a little more help to afford our city — families where older siblings pick their younger brothers and sisters up from school, or where kids have after-school and summer jobs to help make ends meet,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “This builds on the work we’ve done to make our city more accessible, particularly for young people and low-income New Yorkers. From our subways, to our ferries, to our greenways, we’re making it easier and more affordable to get around New York City.”
Student OMNY cards will be valid on the subway; on local, limited, and Select buses; on the Staten Island Railway; on the Roosevelt Island Tram; and on Hudson Rail link; and will include free transfers from one mode to another.
Students will also now keep the same card for the entire year, through the summer.
The cards will be distributed to students at the start of the school year by each individual school across the five boroughs. More information about Student OMNY cards is available online.
