Res. No. 278
Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to alter its policies so that customers never end up with a MetroCard with less than a full fare in value.
By Council Member Menchaca
Whereas, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) offers two primary types of MetroCards that allow customers to pay subway and bus fares: Pay-Per-Ride and Unlimited; and
Whereas, Customers can add any amount between $5.50 and $80 to their Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard, with a 5 percent “bonus” added to the value of the card with each transaction; and
Whereas, The bonus results in one free fare for every 20 full fare rides; and
Whereas, Though the bonus is advantageous for customers, as MetroCards are used and their value is depleted, it can result in MetroCards with balances of less than a full $2.75 fare; and
Whereas, Visitors who are leaving the city and people who start using other forms of transportation can be left with MetroCards that have value but are unusable without refilling them; and
Whereas, Similarly, households may accumulate multiple MetroCards with varying “unusable” balances; and
Whereas, For the sake of convenience and ease-of-use for its customers, the MTA should devise a system in which customers are not left with “unusable” balances on their MetroCards while maintaining the principle of a free fare for every 20 full fares; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to alter its policies so that customers never end up with a MetroCard with less than a full fare in value.
JM
LS# 2094/Res. 409-2014
LS# 981
1/3/2018