Res 0215-2024

Whereas, According to TransitCenter, a foundation that works on the improvement of public transit, as of January 2019, there were 97 cities and towns across the world that provide fully fare-free public transit, and there is a growing movement both in the United States and abroad in favor of fare elimination as part of addressing climate change, rising income inequality and socioeconomic disparity; and Whereas, Currently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) suspends alternate side parking on 37 legal and major holidays in New York City, and DOT also suspends parking meter regulations on some major legal holidays including New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; and Whereas, Several metropolitan jurisdictions offer free New Year's Eve transit to help ease travel options and reduce drunk driving, such as Los Angeles, California (CA); Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis (MN), Minnesota; Toronto, Ontario; and Vancouver, British Columbia; among others; and Whereas, New York City's buses, subways, and commuter rail lines were free between 8 am and 8 pm on New Year's Eve in 1984 and 1985; and Whereas, Major cities in the United States have offered free transit for selected holidays such as Saint Paul, MN in connection with St. Patrick's Day festivities, and Los Angeles, CA; Dallas, Texas (TX); Houston, TX; and Tampa, Florida offered free buses and trains on Election Day, November 6, 2018; and Whereas, In 2005, the MTA offered a fare discount for the holiday season, reducing the base fare by half at the time, to $1 for weekends between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day as well as throughout the last week of December; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to make subways and buses fare-free on major holidays. ..Body Session 13 LS #1970 01/12/2024 Session 12 JB LS #1970 1/24/22 1:37pm