University Student Senate of CUNY Celebrates Free OMNY Card Pilot Program for Eligible CUNY Students
After three years of student advocacy, USS applauds the creation of a transit support pilot designed to help remove transportation barriers for CUNY students
NEW YORK, NY, July 8, 2026 — The University Student Senate of CUNY, known as USS, celebrates the advancement to the USS CUNY Student Commuter Grant Pilot Program, a major step forward in the long standing fight for free transit access for CUNY students.
For the past three years, USS has advocated for free student transit, beginning with the push for free MetroCards and continuing through the transition to free OMNY cards. This effort has been rooted in a simple reality: transportation is one of the most immediate and preventable barriers facing CUNY students. For students who commute across boroughs to attend class, work, care for family, and participate in campus life, the cost of public transit can mean the difference between staying enrolled and falling behind.
The pilot program will provide free OMNY cards to eligible CUNY students each semester. According to the USS pilot proposal, the program includes a $700,000 pilot budget, supports approximately 1,555 students, provides 75 trips per student, and delivers a total of 116,625 trips. The program is designed to support students with demonstrated need, including students with disabilities, student parents, students who were in the foster care system, low-income community college students, and international students.
This victory belongs to CUNY students. For three years, USS has made it clear that transportation access is education access. Free OMNY cards will help students get to class, remain enrolled, and continue working toward their degrees without having to choose between a train ride and another basic need. We are proud to have brought this initiative to the finish line, and we know this is only the beginning.
— Akkeem Polack, Trustee on the CUNY Board & Chairperson of the University Student Senate
USS extends its deepest gratitude to Council Member Rita Joseph, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Higher Education, for her constant support to CUNY students and her commitment to making higher education more accessible.
USS is also grateful to Senator Robert Jackson, Council Member Harvey Epstein, NYC Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, and Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright for their continued support to CUNY students and their advocacy for accessible, affordable transportation.
Credit for launching this effort goes to former USS Chairperson/CUNY Trustee Salimatou Doumbouya, who started this initiative and helped place student transit access at the center of the student advocacy agenda.
That momentum was carried forward by former USS Chairperson/CUNY Trustee Daniel Reden, who continued the push and helped sustain the campaign through multiple budget cycles.
The campaign reached the finish line under the current USS Chairperson/CUNY Trustee Akkeem Polack, who ensured that student voices remained central throughout the process.
USS also recognizes the Coalition organizations — CUNY Rising Alliance, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY, Young Invincibles, NYPIRG, and uAspire, whose partnership helped strengthen the call for transit equity across CUNY.
Most importantly, USS thanks all CUNY students who supported this journey, shared their stories, organized, testified, advocated, and refused to let transportation insecurity remain invisible.
The USS CUNY Student Commuter Grant Pilot Program is a meaningful first step toward a more equitable system. USS will continue advocating for equal or increased funding in future semesters so that more eligible CUNY students can receive the support they need.
About the University Student Senate of CUNY
The University Student Senate of CUNY is the official student governance body representing students across The City University of New York. USS advocates for the rights, needs, and interests of CUNY students and works to advance policies that promote affordability, access, equity, and student success.
Learn more at usscuny.org.
