Will MetroCards be officially phased out by 2024 replaced by OMNY?
The OMNY rollout started in 2019, and its tap-and-go contactless readers now exist in every subway station and on every bus route in the city. MetroCards, according to the MTA, will be fully phased out by 2024 — as will the vending machines.
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OMNY can currently be used to pay fares at all New York City Subway and Staten Island Railway stations, on all MTA buses, and on the Roosevelt Island Tram; when completely rolled out, it will also replace the MetroCard on Bee-Line buses, NICE buses, and AirTrain JFK.
Tap and go in every boroughOMNY will eventually combine fare payments and ticketing across subways, buses, paratransit, and commuter rail. As we work toward a full rollout, you can still use MetroCard, TrainTime, and other existing fare payment options, giving you the flexibility to choose when OMNY is right for you.
OMNY is available throughout New York CityYou can use OMNY with your own contactless card or smart device. OMNY currently supports a full-fare, pay-per-ride option for now, including free transfers.
OMNY is our contactless payment system.You don't have to sign up or download an app to use OMNY — simply use your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device to tap and go. You'll pay the same base fare — $2.90 — and still get free transfers.
The MTA said it wants to get out of the business of selling physical cards that expire after 18 months, which is the expiration time for MetroCards. The reloadable OMNY cards are thicker and will expire after seven years.
You do not need an OMNY card to tap and pay the fare. Use your own contactless credit, debit, reloadable prepaid card, or a smart phone or device with digital wallet enabled. Just choose your preferred payment method, tap and go!
Creating an OMNY account is not required. However, there are many benefits available to you by registering for an OMNY account. For example, you can access a secure, personalized dashboard, where you can view up to 12 months of your trips and charges. Register for an OMNY account today.
A red screen that reads Payment Method Expired indicates that the card being used to pay the fare has expired. Riders are encouraged to select another payment option. A red screen that reads Payment Not Accepted means you may have tapped a cancelled card or your payment method may be blocked by the OMNY system.
You must use the same contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card for each trip. Customers will automatically receive free, unlimited rides for the rest of the week once they have paid $34 (or $17 for registered Reduced-Fare customers) in fares — the same as taking 12 trips.
New York City subways accept credit cards, debit cards, Apple pay, Wallet pay and the OMNY card as well as MetroCard. AirTrain only accepts MetroCard at this time. You can refill any NYCT MetroCard (even unlimited weekly cards) with enough extra value to pay for your $8.25 single ride on AirTrain.
I know a lot of people are crying about prices going up, but you can't stop it. It's gonna happen, one rider said. The MTA said ridership is growing and the fare increases are needed to maintain current service levels and even increase service frequency.
Benefits of OMNY include: Free transfers – Use the same card or device for both legs of your trip to get a free transfer. Free trips – Pay for 12 rides using the same card or device in a 7-day period, and all additional rides within the week are free. Learn more here.