What to Know About OMNY, MetroCard’s Tap-and-Go Successor
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Starting January 1, New York City transit riders will no longer be able to purchase MetroCards, with the OMNY tap-and-go system becoming the sole payment method for subways and buses.
- MetroCards will remain usable for about six months after January 1 but cannot be refilled, as the MTA aims to save at least $20 million annually by phasing out MetroCard production and distribution.
- OMNY allows riders to pay via contactless readers using smartphones, watches, credit/debit cards, or a physical OMNY card, and offers a weekly fare cap of $34, increasing to $35 starting January 4.
- As of mid-December, over 90% of paid trips used OMNY
