New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched a contactless payment system called Omny (One Metro New York), marking the beginning of the end for the iconic but often frustrating MetroCard. The pilot, which began on Friday, allows passengers at 16 subway stations and all Staten Island buses to tap in using contactless bankcards or mobile payment services such as Apple Pay.
The system, similar to London’s Oyster, will be rolled out across the network by 2023. A physical Omny card is not expected until 2021, and the MetroCard will be phased out two and a half years later. Andy Byford, president of the New York City Transit Authority, hailed the launch as “the quickest, easiest way to pay”, noting that similar systems in London, Sydney and Toronto have been “transformative”.
Passenger reactions were mixed. Brian Steinhardt, a lawyer, welcomed the change, saying the MetroCard is “frustrating” because it often requires multiple swipes. Student Damani Chietan was also positive, calling the MetroCard “inconvenient”. However, David McElroy, a legal technology worker, said he would wait until contactless cards become standard, while Esther Murray, a government worker, expressed fraud concerns.
The pilot was tested by a journalist using a contactless Visa card, which worked instantly. Meanwhile, some tourists, like Tom Vink from Amsterdam, were disappointed to find their non-contactless cards were not accepted. Despite the mixed reactions, the MTA is confident the system will succeed, with a full rollout expected over the next few years.
