Tap-and-go payment for subway, train and bus riders finally coming to NYC area by 2025
New York City rolled out the One Metro New York contactless payment system five years ago, but thanks to a slew of issues, less than half of subway riders currently use OMNY. For example, passengers who are entitled to discounted fares (like students) can't use it if they expect to get a cheaper ride, and people living in the greater New York transit system are also unable to take advantage of the system.
"We saw consistently that there was confusion," said Janno Lieber, CEO and chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
In hopes of increasing OMNY users, the MTA is demoting Cubic Corporation, the contractor behind its original rollout, and will begin working with the team behind the popular app MTA TrainTime, which has a 4.9-star rating in the Apple App Store.
OMNY will be integrated with MTA TrainTime, and riders will soon be able to use the app's tap-and-go function across the MTA's extensive transport system, including the Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road. The updated app will also bring upgrades like modernized ticket machines, according to a MTA press release issued May 20.
"This is the best way to get this done as quickly as possible so that we don't have any interruption in the quality of our ticketing service," said Jamie Torres-Springer, the MTA's construction and development president, in an interview with Streetsblog New York City.
The MTA says it plans to implement a contactless fare payment system for most consumers by the end of 2024 and will further roll it out across subway, bus and paratransit systems by the end of 2025.
"We have the ability to issue tickets to railroad riders that can then be used to ride the subway in an integrated fare, to create pay-as-you-go on the railroad — we have the flexibility for that," Torres-Springer said.
When the new system is complete, customers will be able to use their contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device or OMNY card for tap-and-go payment to ride the subway and bus in addition to trains. Once this happens, the old-school yellow MetroCard will be retired, though its expiration date has been "indefinitely" postponed, as Streetsblog New York City first reported.
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
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- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month