With an eye to assisting older New Yorkers and students, Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) has introduced three pieces of legislation that would make riding MTA city buses free for many New Yorkers.

One bill would allow all seniors currently enrolled in the MTA’s Reduced Fare Program to ride city buses for free (A9427). A second would extend the same benefit to all New York City undergraduate college students attending accredited two- and four-year colleges on a full-time basis (A9356). And a third bill would provide free bus rides to all New York City high school students at both public and private schools, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily (A9361).

“Given the rising cost of living, it makes sense to do things that can ease the financial burden on older New Yorkers, as well as families,” said Assemblyman Colton. “Many seniors use the buses to visit family and friends, to go to senior centers or to attend medical appointments, and being able to save the fare each time they take the bus may mean a great deal to them. Similarly, students not only go to and from class, but also may need to use buses to go to the library or to a museum or to participate in extracurricular activities. For their families, the savings can be substantial.”

The bills were among the first to be introduced for 2026 in the New York State legislature. The start of 2026 also saw the phasing out of the MetroCard. The last date to purchase or refill a MetroCard was December 31, 2025, and while still usable in 2026, the MetroCard will be phased out over the succeeding months, to be replaced by the OMNY system, which allows customers to tap and ride, using their phones, a credit or debit card or an OMNY card.