BILL NUMBER:  S804

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to rates of
fare on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority


 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :
Establishes a discount fare rate of no less than 25% for undergraduate
students attending an accredited college full time on the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority system.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :
Amends §1266 of the public authorities law by adding a new subdivision
19 providing for a discount fare rate program of no less than
twenty-five percent of the regular fare for full-time undergraduate
students attending an accredited college.

 JUSTIFICATION :
A college education is essential in today's economy.  With the
increases to property taxes, utilities, gasoline, and with the growing
unemployment rate, parents are hard pressed to continue funding
increased costs associated with a college education. Students who are
funding their higher education on their own through student loans and
work are in a worse position due to tuition and fee increases.

              

People who graduated from one of the CUNY institutions between 1970
and 1997 pay an estimated $708 million per year more in City and State
taxes than if they had not earned a college degree. Their annual
spending is $4.6 billion higher than if they had not gone to college.

Tins legislation will lower transportation costs for those who are
attending an accredited college full-time. College students and their
families need all the help they can get to make a college education
possible.

An additional significant benefit of this legislation would be
encouraging the use of public transportation which provides
environmental benefits to all residents. Use of public transportation
can lower air pollution and help New York State comply with
environmental standards.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008 - A.2769/Corporations, S.2704/Transportation
2007 - A.2769/Corporations, S.2704/Transportation
2004 - Referred to Corporations

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
Based upon the history of discount programs in the 1990's, it is
anticipated that no loss of revenue from the discounted fares would be
realized due to the amount of additional revenues generated from new
riders in the system.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have
become a law.