Transportation assistance helps fathers get to work, court, medical appointments, and childcare. Public transit passes are often available free or discounted through TANF, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), and social service agencies. Many job training programs cover bus passes. The Ways to Work program and some community action agencies provide low-interest car loans to working parents. State DMVs typically require proof of insurance and current registration; low-cost insurance programs exist for low-income drivers in several states (California's Low Cost Auto Insurance is one example). For rural fathers without reliable transit, dial-a-ride and volunteer driver programs are coordinated through Area Agencies on Aging and community action agencies. Medicaid NEMT covers rides to covered medical visits at no cost. This directory includes transit authorities, Medicaid NEMT providers, and car-ownership assistance programs.
Transportation in New York
New York has separate Family Court (for custody, support, paternity, DV) and Supreme Court (for divorce) systems. NYC's Family Court operates in all five boroughs. The Office of Child Support Services runs enforcement. NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse are the major metros. Legal Aid Society of NYC, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Legal Services NYC provide substantial family law aid.
17 Resources
1. MTA New York City Transit — Subway & Bus — Paid
NYC's subway and local bus system. Fare
per ride. Tap-to-pay with OMNY contactless card or phone, or use a MetroCard. Weekly fare capping at 5 with OMNY. 24/7 subway service on most lines. Call 511 or visit mta.info for trip planning, service alerts, and route maps. Reduced fares available for seniors and disabled riders. Children under 44 inches ride free with a paying adult.
Commuter rail connecting NYC Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal to Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The busiest commuter railroad in North America. Buy tickets via the MTA eTix app, ticket windows, or OMNY contactless. Call 511 for schedules and trip planning. Monthly and weekly passes available. Reduced fares for seniors, disabled passengers, and children under 5 ride free with a paying adult.
Commuter rail connecting NYC Grand Central Terminal to Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Connecticut. Buy tickets via the MTA eTix app or station windows. Call 511 for schedules. Monthly and weekly passes available. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled passengers. Off-peak and reverse-peak fares available. Connects to Amtrak at several stations for further travel.
Public bus system for Nassau County, Long Island. Connects to NYC subway and LIRR at multiple transfer points. Travel Information Center at (516) 336-6600 Mon–Fri 8am–8pm. Paratransit service for eligible riders: (516) 228-4028. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled passengers. Routes cover Nassau County including Hempstead, Valley Stream, Freeport, Hicksville, and Mineola areas.
5. CDTA — Capital District Transportation Authority (Albany) — Paid
Public bus system serving Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties in the Capital District. Comprehensive regional routes including BRT rapid transit corridors and UAlbany campus routes. Located at 110 Watervliet Avenue, Albany. Call (518) 482-8822 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled passengers. CDTA Navigator contactless payment accepted on all buses.
6. RTS — Regional Transit Service (Rochester) — Paid
Public bus system serving Monroe County and the Rochester region with 50+ routes. Free fare available for qualifying low-income riders through the RTS Freedom Pass program. Located at 1372 East Main Street, Rochester. Call (585) 288-1700 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled riders. RTS also operates Access Transportation paratransit for eligible disabled passengers in the Monroe County area.
(585) 288-1700 · 1372 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14609 · Mon–Fri 8am–5pm (customer service) · Visit Website
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates 55 bus routes and 1 light rail line in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region. Located at 181 Ellicott Street, Buffalo. Customer Care: (716) 855-7211 Mon–Fri 6am–6pm. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled riders. MetroRail runs from downtown Buffalo to the University at Buffalo South Campus. Access-A-Ride paratransit serves eligible disabled riders.
Door-to-door paratransit service for NYC residents with disabilities who cannot use the accessible subway or bus. Apply for eligibility through MTA — bring documentation of your disability. Book trips 1–7 days in advance by phone at (877) 337-2017 or through the app. Fare is (same as subway). Trips are shared-ride. Available throughout all five boroughs and within 3/4 mile of fixed bus routes.
9. Medicaid NEMT — NY Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Free
Free non-emergency medical transportation rides to and from medical appointments for NY Medicaid members. Schedule through Medical Answering Services (MAS). Downstate: (844) 666-6270. Upstate: (866) 932-7740. Available 24/7 for scheduling. Call at least 3 days before your appointment. Covers taxi, car service, wheelchair van, and ambulette. No cost to the Medicaid-enrolled patient. Bring your Medicaid card.
Public bus system serving Suffolk County on Long Island with fixed routes and Able-Ride paratransit service for eligible disabled passengers. Customer service: (631) 852-5200 Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm. Mailing address: P.O. Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled riders. Routes connect major Suffolk County communities including Hauppauge, Patchogue, Huntington, and Bay Shore.
(631) 852-5200 · P.O. Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788 · Customer service Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm
11. Bee-Line Bus — Westchester County — Paid
Westchester County's public Bee-Line bus system with 60+ routes connecting to NYC subway at multiple transfer points. Customer service: (914) 813-7777. Office at 100 E. First St., Mt. Vernon. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled passengers. Connects major Westchester communities including White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and Peekskill. Paratransit available for eligible disabled riders.
Public transit authority serving Syracuse and Central New York including Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, and Oneida counties. Operates fixed bus routes and Call-A-Bus paratransit for eligible disabled riders. Located at 200 Cortland Ave., Syracuse. Customer service: (315) 442-3400 Mon–Fri 6am–7pm. Reduced fares for seniors and disabled passengers. Routes connect Syracuse, Oswego, Auburn, and Rome areas.
13. MTA Fair Fares NYC — Half-Price MetroCard — Paid
NYC program providing half-price MetroCards for qualifying low-income New Yorkers earning at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. Apply online through ACCESS NYC at access.nyc.gov or call 311. Half-price MetroCard cuts subway and bus fare from to
.50 per trip. Once approved, cards are available at HRA offices. Renewal required annually. Significantly reduces monthly transportation costs for qualifying families.
14. DAV Hospital Shuttle — NY VA Medical Centers — Free
Free shuttle rides to VA medical centers across New York provided by trained DAV volunteer drivers for veterans who lack transportation to appointments. Call (877) 426-2838 to reserve a ride. Routes run to NY VA medical centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, Canandaigua, and Northport. Rides must be scheduled in advance. No cost to the veteran. Available for any VA healthcare appointment.
Commuter bus service connecting Rockland and Orange counties to Midtown Manhattan and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Part of the Coach USA network. Call (201) 444-0300 for schedules and fare information. Buses run on express commuter schedules morning and evening. Monthly and daily passes available. Convenient option for residents in Rockland or Orange who commute to New York City for work.
Free non-emergency medical transportation for NY Medicaid recipients to and from covered medical appointments. Book through Medical Answering Services at (844) 666-6270 (Downstate) or (866) 932-7740 (Upstate). Available 24/7 for scheduling. Covers taxi, car service, wheelchair-accessible van, and ambulette. Call at least 3 business days in advance for scheduled appointments. No cost to Medicaid-enrolled patients.
Rapid transit system connecting Lower and Midtown Manhattan to Jersey City, Hoboken, and Newark. OMNY and contactless payment accepted. 24/7 service on the Journal Square-33rd Street line. Other lines operate on scheduled hours. Call (800) 234-7284 for information. One-way fare approximately .90. Monthly passes available. Essential connection for NY/NJ commuters and residents traveling between the two states.
Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.
What is Medicaid NEMT?
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).
Are there reduced-fare transit options?
Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.
What if I live in a rural area with no bus?
Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.