OFFICE OF PUPIL TRANSPORTATION
Alexandra Robinson, Executive Director
44-36 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, NY 11101
STOP
Please read ALL of the following BEFORE distributing MetroCards
Enclosed you will find a shipment of MetroCards for distribution to summer school students. The
number of MetroCards in the shipment is based on information we received by fax or e-mail from
you, for nonpublic schools, or from ATS for public schools and charter schools. These MetroCards
are valid from July 1, 2016, through August 19, 2016, the dates of the public school summer
school program. If your program ends before August 19, 2016, the MetroCards distributed to
students need to be deactivated so that they cannot be used for purposes other than school
transportation. Instructions on deactivating cards will be found below.
Student MetroCards are easily distinguished from the gold MetroCards available to the general
public.

MetroCards for students in grades K-6 are white with bright orange lettering.

MetroCards for students in grades 7-12 are white with bright green lettering.
We have included a sufficient number of MetroCards for distribution to all students identified as
attending summer school at your location who do not walk or travel by school bus. Please note
that all are full-fare cards. We are no longer shipping half-fare MetroCards for summer school.
Included with the MetroCards in this package you will find a receipt listing the serial numbers for
the cards. This should be checked for accuracy against the serial numbers found on the cards
enclosed. In addition to the receipt, as you are probably aware, if your program is in a public
school building, students from a number of different schools may be attending summer school at
your location. Therefore, enclosed you will also find a tabulation sheet indicating the number of
students from the various schools that may be attending summer school at your location. Please
be sure that MetroCards are distributed to students in keeping with the information contained on
the tabulation sheet.
All full fare MetroCards are valid on public buses or subways in the city (except Express Bus
routes) and are programmed for three trips per school day. The cards will be automatically
encoded with a free transfer when the students either board a bus or enter the subway.
We strongly urge you to take any and all steps necessary to secure these MetroCards upon their
arrival at your school. You should also remind your staff that these cards are to be given to and
used only by eligible students. Anyone apprehended for unauthorized use of a student MetroCard
will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
You are responsible for accounting for the MetroCards distributed to students for summer school
transportation. To assist you in that accounting, we have included a sample page for a recordkeeping system that we would encourage you to consider using. Random audits of this recordkeeping will be conducted throughout the summer school term.
K:\GE_Tra nsportation\METROCARD\SUMMER 2016\2016 05-19-16 Letter - Summer School MetroCard Shipments.docx
Crea ted by: R. Ca rney
La s t s aved by: R. Ca rney, 05-19-16
2016 Summer School MetroCard Shipments
2
If it appears that you have not received an adequate number of MetroCards to serve your summer
school population, please e-mail OPT. If yours is a public school, use the following address:
[email protected]
Nonpublic schools should use the following address:
[email protected]
Please include the following information in all requests:
Your school’s OPT code
The OPT code for the site of your summer school program (found on the enclosed receipt)
The number and type of additional MetroCards you require
Student MetroCards contain a “negative listing” capability that, in the event a student card is lost
or stolen, allows the serial number to be reported to the MTA for processing. Once reported, the
card will be electronically deactivated. This negative listing feature makes it essential that you
keep an accurate record and requires your diligence in maintaining these records.
With respect to reporting lost or stolen cards so that they can be deactivated, the MTA no longer
accepts the “bubble sheets” that have been used in the past. If you are familiar with the use of
these forms, please discontinue their use and destroy any copies you may have in stock. To
deactivate lost or stolen cards, please e-mail both of the following persons:
[email protected]
[email protected]
The MTA requires this information in the following format:
Date
School code MetroCard number
Example:
05/13/2008
31543 1265825662
31543 1265825667
In the event that a standard three-trip MetroCard does not adequately address a student’s
transportation needs, a four-trip MetroCard may be obtained by having the principal e-mail the
Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT). An example of the need for a four-trip MetroCard is a student
who must travel on at least three buses or two buses and a subway in his or her commute to and
from school. This commute will require at least two transfers. The need for the transfer to the third
vehicle is warranted if the second vehicle cannot transport a student to within a half mile
(approximately ten blocks) of his or her home or school and no other routes of two or fewer
vehicles are available.
Should you have any questions concerning MetroCard usage or procedures, please call OPT’s
Customer Unit at (718) 392-8855 and a staff member will provide assistance.
2016 Summer School MetroCard Shipments
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2016 Summer School MetroCard Distribution
Summer school site:
Student Name
Student’s
School
Type of
MetroCard
Serial Number
Page _______ of ________