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3d ago

MetroCard Sales End Dec. 31 as New York City Shifts to OMNY

The move caps a yearslong rollout that the MTA says will cut costs by about $20 million annually.

Parts of MetroCards used by New York City artist Thomas McKean to create sculptures and mosaics are seen in Manhattan, New York, on January 27, 2023.
Riders take advantage of MetroCard transfers as they enter subway system near Staten Island Ferry terminal at Whitehall Street on July 7, 1997.
FILE - Russell Chin, left, helps Angie Hoyle, 3, of the Brooklyn borough of New York, as she tries on a hat made of MetroCards shaped as the Brooklyn Bridge during the Easter Parade on New York's Fifth Avenue, March 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File)
New York City artist Thomas McKean, who creates sculptures and mosaics with MetroCards, cuts a MetroCard on January 27, 2023.

Overview

  • MetroCard purchases and refills stop Dec. 31, with existing cards still accepted into 2026 and a final cutoff date yet to be announced.
  • Riders can tap phones, credit or debit cards, or a reloadable OMNY card, which can be bought with cash for $1 at machines and participating retailers.
  • More than 90% of trips are already paid via OMNY, and the MTA projects about $20 million in annual savings from retiring MetroCards.
  • OMNY fare capping grants unlimited rides after the 12th tap in a week, reaching a $35 cap once the base fare rises to $3 in January.
  • Advocates flag access concerns for seniors and unbanked riders, as the New York Transit Museum commemorates the change with its FAREwell, MetroCard exhibit.