Nearly every student selected for CUNY’s new free-transit pilot has collected a card, but the program still reaches only a small share of students who expressed interest in the CUNY OMNY pilot.
The New York City Council and CUNY said Oct. 30 that 693 of the initial 700 participants had picked up their unlimited OMNY cards. That is a 99% pickup rate, not a finding that 99% of students ride every day or that the program has already improved graduation rates. More than 28,500 students submitted interest forms.
This initiative, known as the CUNY OMNY pilot, is designed to increase accessibility for students across the city.
The Council secured $700,000 for the pilot. Speaker Julie Menin said she hopes the early response supports expansion in future years. Friday’s announcement did not establish a new enrollment round or promise cards to everyone who expressed interest. Read the Oct. 30 Council announcement.
Who the limited program serves
According to CUNY’s September launch announcement, participants must qualify for Pell aid, take at least 12 credits in both semesters and attend at least two courses in person. Students already receiving transportation help through other programs, including CUNY ASAP, cannot receive this pilot benefit.
CUNY said it would screen fall participants again before the spring benefit and created a 300-student waitlist. A waitlist is not the same as an open guarantee of future assistance.
The fall benefit runs from Oct. 5 through Dec. 25, 2026. The announced spring benefit is a 120-day unlimited pass starting Jan. 28, 2027. Those dates also mean students should not assume the pilot provides continuous coverage during the winter break. CUNY published the eligibility rules and benefit dates at launch.
What comes after card pickup
The Center for an Urban Future, which advocated for transit support, says transportation is one of several costs beyond tuition that can make finishing college harder. Its other examples include child care, technology and lost wages. The group’s account of its research and advocacy is available here.
Pickup is an early measure of participation. Whether the pilot changes attendance, course completion or students’ finances requires follow-up evidence. For now, the confirmed result is narrower: almost all of the selected students have obtained the benefit, while demand extends well beyond the first cohort.
