MTA Kicks Off First Day of School with Mayor Adams as Students Use OMNY Cards For First Time

Over 1.5 Million Student OMNY Cards Distributed Across New York City Schools

Student OMNY Cards Expand Travel Benefits from MetroCard with Up to Four Free Trips Per Day and Valid 24 Hours A Day, 7 Days a Week, 365 Days a Year

View Photos of MTA Leadership Greeting Students with NYC Mayor Adams and Distributing Student OMNY Card Promotional Flyers

View Video of MTA Leadership Distributing Student OMNY Card Promotional Flyers

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leadership today joined Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor David C. Banks to greet students on the first day of school. MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara and NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow joined City officials at P.S. 257 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for a first day of school celebration and to distribute promotional flyers for the new student OMNY cards program, outlining the benefits of the new cards.

Starting this school year, eligible students will tap into the system with OMNY cards. The Student OMNY cards, first announced in July, are valid 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, with up to four free rides a day. Student OMNY cards significantly expand flexibility for student travel. Previously, students were limited to only three free rides each day from only 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the cards could only be used on days when the student's school was open for class.

"The MTA is all in on OMNY, and we are so excited to expand tap-and-go to students," said NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow. "Over 1.5 million cards were distributed, and for the first time ever, students can take up to four free rides every single day, helping them get to school, practice, and after-school activities. We will do our part to keep the trains and buses on the move to get them there safely and on time."

"OMNY is all about flexible travel, so we wanted to provide students that same benefit before we rolled this program out," said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. "We collected feedback from the students all across the city on their schedules to ensure the card was able to work for them getting to school and extracurricular activities using mass transit, and we believe we accomplished that goal."

Student OMNY cards will be valid on all subway lines; on local, limited and Select buses; on the Staten Island Railway; 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 expanded benefits provide the foundation for New York City students to learn how to utilize the public transit system and build a culture of tapping.

The cards will be distributed to students at the start of the school year by each individual school across the five boroughs. In addition to the cards, students will also receive promotional flyers outlining the benefits of the enhanced program. The MTA and NYC Public Schools will work together to evaluate and promote card usage across school districts.

Watch this video for more information about the Student OMNY cards.

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