On Wednesday, March 20th, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber revealed that MetroCards will be phased out by the end of the year to pave the way for OMNY’s official takeover. A final date has yet to be announced, but the transportation network will not be creating new cards.
“Making it easier to pay the fare and making it more affordable means more for paying customers,” Lieber said during a press conference. “Contactless fare payment is not only faster and more convenient, it’s going to allow us to do more, much more with discounts and promotions. It’s a much more dynamic system.”
When will MetroCards be phased out?
Imagining a city without MetroCards seems next to impossible, so the MTA will easy busy commuters into the transition: MetroCards will continue to work at turnstiles six months into 2026, though new cards will not be distributed at the end of 2025.
“Goodbye, MetroCard. You served us well,” Lieber noted. “But it’s time to retire you to the Transit Museum, to spend many happy days with your old friend, Mr. Token.”
Soon, MetroCards will be taking a seat with another subway icon: the orange and yellow seats, which will also be phased out this year. Similarly, a date has yet to be announced, but you can cue the nostalgia factor for sure.
“While there’s no doubt the MetroCard will remain an iconic New York City symbol, tap-and-go fare payment has been a game changer for everyday riders and visitors, saving them the guessing game on what fare package is most cost efficient for their travels and making using NYC’s transit system much easier,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “This is a prime example of how we’re leveraging new technology to modernize our systems and create a better customer experience.”
According to the MTA, the official final acceptance date will be announced at a later time. We’ll be sure to keep you posted as new developments emerge on the issue. Watch this space for more.