When the MetroCard replaced the New York City subway token in 1994, the swipeable plastic card infused much-needed modernity into one of the world’s oldest and largest transit systems.
Now, more than three decades later, the gold-hued fare card and its notoriously finicky magnetic strip are following the token into retirement.
The last day to buy or refill a MetroCard is December 31, 2025, as the transit system fully transitions to OMNY, a contactless payment system that allows riders to tap their credit card, phone or other smart device to pay fares, much like they do for other everyday purchases.
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Transit officials say more than 90 per cent of subway and bus trips are now paid using the tap-and-go system, introduced in 2019.
Major cities around the world, including London and Singapore, have long used similar contactless systems. In the US, San Francisco launched a pay-go system earlier this year, joining Chicago and others.
MetroCards upended how New Yorkers commute