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Fair Fares NYC

 

 

Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rule

 

What are we proposing?   The New York City Department of Social Services / Human Resources Administration (DSS/HRA) proposes amending its rule governing the Fair Fares program to include Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.

 

When and where is the hearing?  The Department of Social Services / New York City Human Resources Administration will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule.  Due to COVID-19, the public hearing will take place remotely via WebEx on September 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM.  Those wishing to attend the hearing may join by:

Phone: 

Dial 646-992-2010

When prompted, enter access code 129 778 6784 

Internet Video and Audio: 

Visit https://nyc-dss.webex.com/nyc-dss/j.php?MTID=m419df96e8aa8f58273ddf94bedb3d760 

When prompted, enter: 

Meeting Number:     129 778 6784

 

Password:                 FairFares

How do I comment on the proposed rule?  Anyone can comment on the proposed rule by:

 

 

  • Email.  You can email comments to [email protected].   Please include “Fair Fares” in the subject line.

 

  • Mail.  You can mail comments to:

 

HRA Rules

c/o Office of Legal Affairs

150 Greenwich Street, 38th Floor

New York, NY  10007

 

Please make clear that you are commenting on the Fair Far rule.

 

  • Fax.  You can fax comments to 917-639-0413.  Please include “Fair Fares Rule” in the subject line.

 

  • By speaking at the hearing.  You may sign up to speak at the hearing by calling 929-221-7220 or emailing [email protected] on or before September 2.  Speakers will be called in the order that they signed up and will be able to speak for up to two minutes.

 

Is there a deadline to submit comments?  The deadline to submit comments is September 3, 2020

 

What if I need assistance to participate in the hearing?

You must tell us if you need interpretation services or a reasonable accommodation to participate in for the hearing. You can tell us by email at [email protected]. You may also tell us by telephone at 929-221-7220. Advance notice is requested to allow sufficient time to make arrangements. Please tell us by August 20, 2020.

 

Can I review the comments made on the proposed rule?  You can review the comments made online on the proposed rule by going to the website at http://rules.cityofnewyork.us/. Shortly after the hearing, copies of all comments submitted online, copies of all written comments, and a summary of oral comments concerning the proposed rule will be available to the public on HRA’s website.

 

What authorizes HRA to make this rule? Sections 603 and 1043 of the City Charter and Article VII of the New York State Constitution authorize HRA to make this proposed rule. 

 

Where can I find HRA’s rules?  HRA’s rules are in title 68 of the Rules of the City of New York.

 

Was the proposed rule included in HRA’S regulatory agenda?  This rule was not contemplated when HRA issued its most recent regulatory agenda.

What laws govern the rulemaking process?  HRA must meet the requirements of Section 1043 of the City Charter when creating or changing rules. This notice is made according to the requirements of Section 1043 of the City Charter.

 

Statement of Basis and Purpose of Proposed Rule

The Fair Fares NYC Program helps New York City residents with low incomes manage their transportation costs by providing them with a 50% discount on public transportation. The program has been launched in phases and a rule concerning the program was issued by the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS/HRA) late last year.

DSS/HRA will now be making the Fair Fares discount available on Access-A-Ride paratransit trips with the cooperation of New York City Transit. To that end, a letter was sent to all Access-A-Ride customers earlier this summer telling them how to apply for Fair Fares NYC and how to link their DSS/HRA Fair Fares NYC and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Access-A-Ride accounts. So far, approximately 700 Fair Fares customers have made that linkage. Although Access-A-Ride paratransit customers are not currently being charged a fare at all due to the COVID-19 pandemic, upon the resumption of fare collection customers will be able to take advantage of this discount.

The current Fair Fares rule provides that the Fair Fares discount shall be available “on NYCT-operated subway and local bus lines, and such other transit options that DSS/HRA may designate in consultation with NYCT.” Thus, although a rule change is not strictly necessary to expand Fair Fares to Access-A-Ride trips, DSS/HRA proposes amending the rule to reflect the inclusion of Access-A-Ride.

Additionally, the proposed rule:

(1) replaces references to the “Fair Fares MetroCard” with a more generic reference to the “Fair Fares discount” in light of the facts that MetroCards are not used on Access-A-Ride trips and that the One Metro New York (OMNY) system will likely eventually replace the MetroCard altogether,

(2) changes an erroneous reference to “federal gross income” to “gross income,” and

(3) removes a definition of term that is not used in the rule.