Reduced-Fare

About Reduced Fare

Cost: The base subway or local bus fare is $2.50. Reduced fare is half the base fare, $1.25 or less with Reduced-Fare MetroCard discounts.

Who’s eligible: Customers who are 65 years of age or older or have a qualifying disability.

Where and when you can ride at the reduced fare:

• MTA New York City Transit and MTA Bus: local buses anytime
• MTA New York City Transit and MTA Bus: express buses anytime except weekday rush hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 am and 3 p.m. to 7 pm.
• MTA Long Island Rail Road and the MTA Metro-North Railroad anytime except weekday rush hours to New York City terminals

How to pay with a Reduced-Fare MetroCard

A Reduced-Fare MetroCard is a personalized MetroCard with your name and photograph.You must apply for, and be approved to receive it.

Seniors Citizens (65 and older): Your application for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard includes the EasyPay automatic refill payment option. Click here to download an application.

Customers with Qualifying Disabilities: Apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard. Click here to download an application. Once approved, you can enroll in the EasyPay automatic refill payment option. Click here to download the form.

About the EasyPay Reduced-Fare payment option: EasyPay lets you link your credit or debit card to your Reduced-Fare MetroCard so it refills automatically as you use it.  Create an account today, and in about three weeks, you’ll receive your new EasyPay Reduced-Fare MetroCard in the mail.  Use it right away and enjoy the benefits. With EasyPay there’s no more waiting in line to buy or refill a MetroCard. EasyPay is the easy way. Learn more.

How to pay with cash

When you pay with cash, you must present an acceptable form of identification (ID).  Show your ID to a subway Station Agent or Bus Operator.  Accepted forms of ID are: a NYC Department of Aging ID card, Medicare card (Medicaid not accepted), Access-A-Ride ID card, MTA Reduced-Fare ID card (pre-1995).

Follow these instructions for riding the subway or bus:

In the Subway: Show your authorized ID to a station agent and pay the full $2.50 fare, and you will be issued a Reduced-Fare, Round-Trip MetroCard. One trip will be deducted for each use ($1.25 per ride) and the $1.00 new card fee does not apply. Please note that paper return-trip tickets will no longer be issued, but current paper return-trip tickets will be honored until further notice.

This 2-trip MetroCard will be accepted at all subway stations, local buses and Staten Island Railway. It cannot be refilled, is non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-redeemable.

Note: Until further notice, Reduced-Fare customers whose employers provide transit benefits via a debit card must continue to purchase their MetroCard at the MetroCard Vending Machines and then visit the station booth to obtain a paper return-trip ticket.

For a more convenient way to use your transit benefits, we encourage you to get a Reduced-Fare MetroCard which can be refilled at MetroCard Vending Machines using your transit benefits debit card; or sign up for the EasyPay Reduced-Fare MetroCard and link your transit benefits card to the account.

On the Bus: Show your ID to the Bus Operator and pay $1.25 in coins, exact change; no pennies or dollar bills accepted.  You can request a transfer from the Bus Operator.  The transfer is valid for two hours, and can be used to transfer to another local (not express) bus; the transfer cannot be used in the subway.