Residents Save $1.6M in 2 Years with CityTicket

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato joined the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) to celebrate the tremendous success of the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) Far Rockaway CityTicket program as it celebrates its two year anniversary. For years, those looking to take the train to Manhattan (via either Penn Station or Grand Central) would have to pay full fare when other LIRR stations throughout the City were eligible for the reduced fare program, known as CityTicket. The Far Rockaway station, due to it “passing through” Nassau County, was excluded from this program. That changed in August 2023 when Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, in partnership with other Rockaway state representatives, succeeded in securing the implementation of the Far Rockaway CityTicket. The new program provides passengers who ride from the Far Rockaway LIRR Station into Manhattan with a one-way ticket for $7 during peak hours, or $5 during off-peak hours. Without the CityTicket discount, a peak ticket to Manhattan would cost $13, while an off-peak ticket would cost $9.75.

More than 416,000 CityTickets have been purchased from the Far Rockaway station since. According to the MTA, this in saving Rockaway passengers over $1.6 million in transportation costs over the past two years.

“This was always about affordability and making sure Rockaway residents got its fair share. Thanks to the partnership between the MTA and our community, everyone on the Peninsula can utilize the LIRR service and even save a few dollars,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato. “It’s a big world out there, and I’m going to work to make sure our community has access to see all of it.”

Commuters who wish to utilize this program will need to purchase one way or round-trip train tickets at the Far Rockaway station or use the MTA mobile app when in the geographical zone for the CityTicket price.