MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
As the 2024–2025 school year wraps up, New York City’s Student OMNY card program has become a daily staple for hundreds of thousands of students across the five boroughs — replacing the old MetroCards with a smarter, more flexible way to get around.
Launched last fall, the tap-to-ride Student OMNY cards give eligible students four free rides every day, any time of day, all year round — including weekends and summer breaks. That’s a big change from the MetroCard system, which restricted rides to school days and limited hours.
“I’m thrilled about the launch of student OMNY cards because expanding access to public transit means more and more students will have opportunities to explore our city and experience all that New York has to offer. I’m grateful to our partners at the MTA and across the city for making this possible for our students.” said New York City Public Schools Chancellor David C. Banks when the program debuted. Students have since been able to tap into those opportunities 24/7.
Distributed exclusively through schools, the Student OMNY cards have simplified commuting for students and their families. The cards can be used on subways, local and Select Bus Service routes, the Staten Island Railway, the Roosevelt Island Tram, and the Hudson Rail Link, with free transfers between modes.
“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 during the program’s announcement last year. “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.”
Families have embraced the program’s year-round validity, which lets students travel freely during summer vacations or on weekends without worrying about card expiration.
With Student OMNY cards valid year-round, New York City kids now enjoy unprecedented freedom to explore, work, and stay connected during the summer months when school is out. The cards provide up to four free rides daily, removing transportation barriers for students attending summer jobs, internships, camps, or community programs. This accessibility not only supports youth employment and enrichment opportunities but also helps families save money during a time when transit needs often increase.
“We commend the Department of Education and the Metropolitan Transit Authority for expanding the reach of this program to include nights, weekends, and a full year of access including the summertime,” New York State Senator, Brian Kavanagh said. “This was a multi-year effort that began in 2019, when the half-fare MetroCard was eliminated and replaced by full-fare MetroCards for students living 1-1.5 miles from their schools. There is no doubt that this will make a tremendous impact on students and lift a significant financial burden from their families. “
NYC Public Schools has stressed that students must get their OMNY cards directly from their schools—the MTA does not distribute them. Cards are personal and should not be shared; misuse could lead to confiscation.
Students are also reminded to tap their cards every time they board to ensure accurate ridership tracking, which helps the MTA improve transit service.
If cards are lost or malfunctioning, schools are the first stop for replacements, with station agents and bus operators offering assistance on the spot if a card isn’t working.
The OMNY rollout builds on broader city efforts to make transportation affordable and accessible. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget expanded the “Fair Fares NYC” program and provided free summer MetroCards for youth employment participants.
“Since its founding, our Youth Council has been dedicated to expanding the number of hours during which students can use their MetroCards to commute to school, internships, sports and other school-related activities,” said New York State Assemblymember Harvey Epstein. “For far too many students, the status quo prevented the use of student MetroCards on nights and weekends, when many extracurriculars take place. In 2020, we ended the practice of charging half the fare for the 130,000 students living less than two miles from their schools making public transportation free for all students. Today’s announcement builds on that success by giving four taps per day, 24/7 for all students. This change in the student transportation policy is going to help hundreds of thousands of students and their families. I want to thank the MTA for making this happen and to our current and former Youth Council members: when you lead, you can make change in our world that helps millions of others.”
As the program settles in, officials say the Student OMNY card is more than a transit pass — it’s a tool helping students connect to education, work, and community.
“In this pivotal moment, New York City is not just updating a program but transforming the daily commutes of our students,” said New York State Senator Robert Jackson. “I applaud the collaboration of the mayor’s office, the Department of Education, and the MTA in enhancing access and ensuring no student is left behind. With the Student OMNY cards, every trip becomes a pathway to potential, embedding seamless travel into the fabric of our students’ academic experiences and broadening their horizons every day of the year.”
