Many in our communities are familiar with swiping a MetroCard through the subway turnstile—whether on Friday mivtzoim or for regular commuting needs. Now the MTA is phasing out the old system in favor of a new tap card that not only keeps all the convenience of MetroCard, but also includes the same smartphone features—without needing internet or a device.
By Anash.org Reporter
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced it will stop selling and refilling MetroCards by December 31, 2025, accelerating the transition to its contactless tap-and-go payment system, OMNY. Originally set for retirement in 2027, the MetroCard—used since 1994—will now be phased out much sooner, with remaining balances still valid for use until 2027, though no new purchases or refills will be allowed after 2024.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber confirmed the move, noting that “after 32 years, it’s time to say goodbye to the MetroCard and go all in on the fare payment system of the future.” He emphasized that tap-and-go, already adopted by 65% of riders, is easier and more convenient to use, and opens doors to new discounts and promotions that help put money back in riders’ pockets.
Introduced in 2019, the OMNY system allows riders to pay fares by tapping phones, digital wallets, contactless debit and credit cards, or OMNY tap cards at turnstiles. Though the shift primarily encourages digital payments, it still accommodates riders who prefer physical cards or cash. OMNY cards can be purchased for $1 and loaded at thousands of retail locations, online, through Mobile Sales Vans, or at OMNY vending machines being installed across all 472 subway stations by fall 2025. As a result, even those who do not use smartphones or online accounts will have full access to the OMNY system without any digital barrier.
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow praised OMNY for simplifying navigation across the city. “It is the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way to pay the fare,” he said, encouraging remaining MetroCard users to make the switch soon for a smooth transition.
The MTA highlighted financial benefits as well. Approximately $40 million in fare value is lost annually due to underused weekly and monthly MetroCards. With OMNY’s fare-capping feature, riders no longer need to prepay for multiple trips to receive a discount—unused balances aren’t forfeited. For fare-capping and free transfers, users must use the same card or device for all parts of the trip.
Additionally, the MTA expects to save at least $20 million annually in operational costs by discontinuing MetroCard sales, citing reductions in card production, vending machine maintenance, and cash handling.
The transition to OMNY is not only smoother than expected for communities who have traditionally relied on MetroCards—it also provides more flexibility and value.
In frum neighborhoods such as Crown Heights, East Flatbush, and Boro Park, where people are used to getting around with a MetroCard in their pocket, the OMNY card now offers an even better alternative.
Without requiring smartphones or internet access, OMNY cards provide all the benefits of digital tap methods—fare-capping, free transfers, and easy reloads—through familiar, accessible means like cash and in-person services.
For many riders, this represents a clear upgrade in both convenience and practical value, making it a better and more user-friendly option than the MetroCard ever was.
The new card tapping don’t show any balance. How will I know the transfer to another bus. It doesn’t charge me again. Or how would I know my balance is low & need refills. Some elderly don’t have Internet. How would they keep track of the balance. There’s no pictures to separate seniors & younger people.
Um You couldn’t tell if a metrocard had a transfer either until you used it. To check the balance just tap at the omny vending machine
How will MTA transfer the elderly and disabled customers that have half+fare MetroCards over to OMNY? I’ve already had issues at a few stations because I use a half-fare card and do not have the option to reload it anymore. The transit attendants at these stations made me pay full price on trips and I have a fixed income where every nickel I spend matters. Will this program continue and if so what steps will need to be taken to get a half-fare OMNY card?
In NYC I went online and accessed the FairFares, or AccessHRA, website. On the site they have an option to have the new card sent to you. Once you fill out the form, the card takes about a week in the mail. Hope this helps.
Turnstile does not display remaining balance, it should so we know how much is left and needs to refill balance.
OMNY is not perfect. I am a senior. Here is my experience. I created online senior profile.
Select the way you pay at the reader – digital or physical card. Use it. Need to call MTA to change the way you pay. Cannot do it myself online. Some changes take over 24 business hours – change of the credit card, for example. You are stuck to pay full fare until it’s done.
Need to call MTA if you use a phone, then decide to pay with the credit card – you loose the cap balance and you need to call MTA to switch back.
Why can’t I do the changes myself online? Why do I need to waste 30 min waiting for a representative? It’s going to get worse as more people will start using OMNY. And the service is not working 24 hours. I can change the way I pay the bills everywhere else.
They must have designed the system off shore – probably in India.
Hello. I am not a senior but my parents are and they were able to transfer their reduced fare setup from Metrocard to a physical OMNY Card (they actually both received physical OMNY cards setup with their Reduced Fare info from MTA, and were told that their Reduced Fare Metrocard would be phased out soon). Here is information on how to setup Reduced Fare with OMNY from the MTA site’s Frequently Asked Questions section, I hope it is helpful for you ☺️🙏
How do I register as a new Reduced-Fare customer?
You can apply by mail. In-person applications are briefly suspended, and the online application is not currently available.
As the MTA transitions Reduced-Fare customers from MetroCard to OMNY, new customers who apply by mail may experience longer processing times of up to three months before receiving a Reduced-Fare OMNY card.
If you need access to the Reduced-Fare program right away, you can receive in-person assistance and a Temporary Reduced-Fare MetroCard at:
A station booth at any subway station
Our Customer Service Center in Lower Manhattan
One of our mobile sales buses or vans
Check back at mta.info/reduced-fare more updates on Reduced-Fare enrollment soon.
I stopped using OMNY when I keep getting charged twice: getting on the bus and again transferring to the subway. Called about it, waited over 30 minutes for a rep, and rep couldn’t do anything but cut links to the bankcard. The card doesn’t work when I get off the bus to ride the train. Actually it didn’t work on the bus but the driver didn’t say anything so I didn’t know. Went back to the monthly Metrocard which was much cheaper because I go to other places running errands.
The MTA must have consulted with professionals on how to make it more difficult and how to fool riders. Their goal? To profit from the law abiding fare paying riders, especially seniors. I live near 2 train lines that are express stops. Neither one has an OMNY machine. I only pay cash for my OMNY card for a reason. If I want to refill the card I have to make sure to do it at one of the few stations that have it. Wouldn’t you think they’d put OMNY machines at express stops since they have more passengers?
The fact that the turnstiles don’t show how much you’ve paid, your balance or if you’ve received a transfer is sneaky and underhanded. I believe it’s done purposely to keep the rider in the dark and therefore increase their revenue. I also can’t get through to the number on the back of my OMNY card for information. The only time I was successful I was told my card number is in error. Their error, not mine.
The other day I took the train (past my stop) to refill my card. The station clerk told me the OMNY machine wasn’t working. A THUG threw a brick at it. Why isn’t the MTA after the criminals who cost them millions of dollars per year?
The METRO CARD worked very well. IF IT’S NOT BROKEN DON’T FIX IT.
More unnecessary stress living in NY.
What will happen to MTA’s partners like Nice who allow the use of MetroCard at the moment? Will OMNY be used with them as well or will they have to create their own system hence making it more expensive for riders? Due to the fact they will no longer have access to transfers.
I would like to know why can’t we still have both machines cause their are still a lot of people that like to use the old card this is all robbing the people of their hard earned money the beeline doesn’t even have an OMNY machines on their buses yet, and already they are a looking to remove the old card I guess this is also our problem this is America not Japan or China so stop copying other countries ideas, I bought a $34.00 unlimited card and for some reason it got deactivated so I went to 20 Stone st. For a new card not having any money to ride the transit I filled out the form and I was told that they would mail me a card or letter so I asked them so how am I supposed to get back on the subway I was told that it was my problem not theirs and than walked away from the window disrespecting me altogether and instead of getting my unlimited card back I received in the mail a $14.00 check telling me that they couldn’t give me back my unlimited card back because I used the card, I only got to use the card twice before it got deactivated so the MTA really stole my money altogether and you know what they really don’t care, and they are going to keep robbing you no matter what. they are charging you from 60th street $9.00 for using the Queens Boro bridge and the Brooklyn bridge and eventually they will rise it again to $15.00 or $20.00 dollars and they are going to Rise the subway fair again to top it off they have the gall to ask for a lot more money and I mean a lot lot lot more money I really don’t know why we need a second avenue subway anyway we were doing fine with out it what is wrong with walking to Lexington Avenue, before we had a beautiful 3rd Avenue el that could have been repaired what happened to that we also had a beautiful Penn station what happened to that we are very lucky that we got to keep Grand Central Station or they would have destroyed that too, the train stations were better off when they were an independent system cause the stations were cleaner less homeless people, when they made it the MTA everything went to the garbage. Now everything is more money it’s not our fault that everything fell apart cause of your incompetence you should’ve been up on all these issues (problems) from the get go.
I’m highly concerned about the senior citizens who are being only possibly considered. Certainly there is also a part of the population that will suffer from MTA/transportation changes, but does it have to be yet another harm to the older adult citizens of NYC? Saddening.