MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year
After more than three decades of service, the MetroCard is nearing its final ride. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the final day for MetroCard sales will be December 31, the final step in the full transition to the OMNY tap-and-go payment system. Retail partners, including bodegas and drugstores, will stop selling MetroCards this fall. Riders will still be able to pay with their MetroCards through 2026, with the MTA set to announce a final end date at a later time.
“After 32 years, it’s time to say goodbye to the MetroCard and go all in on the fare payment system of the future,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “Tap-and-go—already the choice for 65 percent of our riders—is not only easier and more convenient to use, it also opens the door for new discounts and promotions that’ll put money back in riders’ pockets.”
For those who prefer a physical transit card or wish to pay in cash, an OMNY card can be purchased for $1 and reloaded at any New York City subway station with OMNY machines installed. You can also buy them at thousands of retail locations, online, or at Mobile Sales Van locations.
Riders can transfer funds from their MetroCards to OMNY cards at any Mobile Van or Customer Service Center location.
According to the MTA, the rollout will be officially complete once all 472 subway stations are equipped with functioning OMNY vending machines.
The transition to OMNY is projected to save the MTA at least $20 million annually by reducing expenses related to MetroCard production, distribution, vending machine maintenance, and cash handling, according to a press release.
Since 1993, the MetroCard has been an iconic symbol of the city’s subway. The plastic card provided the first unlimited weekly and monthly passes, replacing the outdated token system that required riders to purchase a token for each trip.
However, according to the MTA, approximately $40 million in fare value from weekly and monthly MetroCards goes underutilized each year. With OMNY, riders won’t have to pre-pay for multiple trips to receive a discount, avoiding the loss of any unused fare value.
“While there’s no doubt the MetroCard will remain an iconic New York City symbol, tap-and-go fare payment has been a game changer for everyday riders and visitors, saving them the guessing game on what fare package is most cost efficient for their travels and making using NYC’s transit system much easier,” MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said.
“This is a prime example of how we’re leveraging new technology to modernize our systems and create a better customer experience.”
A contactless payment system will also enable the MTA to introduce new promotions, discounts, and special deals for tourists, along with the potential for a loyalty program similar to frequent flyer airline rewards. The MTA has already rolled out an OMNY fare-capping program in February 2022, allowing customers who use the tap-and-go system 12 times within a seven-day period to automatically receive an unlimited pass for the rest of the week.
Additionally, OMNY will assist the MTA in its efforts to reduce fare evasion by enabling the agency “to explore technology systems used throughout the world to check proof of payment.”
The long-delayed replacement of the MetroCard first began in 2019. In September 2022, the MTA said it would fully replace the MetroCard by the end of 2023, but was pushed back due to the pandemic and the delayed deliveries of OMNY card vending machines.
In December, an MTA consultant said the full roll-out of OMNY may not be completed until the end of 2026, according to Gothamist.
In February, the MTA announced that participants in the Fair Fares program, which offers 50 percent discounted transit fares to low-income New Yorkers earning up to 120 percent of the area median income, can now order tap-and-go OMNY cards.
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