MTA to stop selling MetroCards by the end of 2025

After thirty years of service, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has revealed plans to discontinue the sale of MetroCards.

According to MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, this shift will occur before the end of this year.

This decision signals a significant step forward in the agency's transition from the outdated technology of the 1990s to the modern "tap and go" system facilitated by OMNY.

The MTA's decision is based on the observation that a substantial number of passengers are now utilizing contactless payment methods, such as credit cards, mobile apps, or the OMNY cards launched in 2019, to access the subway system.
 

In December, the agency also extended OMNY card access to 1.5 million reduced-fare riders, predominantly seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Lieber stated, "After 32 years, it's time to say goodbye to the MetroCard and go all in on the fare payment system of the future. Tap-and-go - already the choice for 65% of our riders - is not only easier and more convenient to use, it also opens the door for new discounts and promotions that'll put money back in riders' pockets."

Existing MetroCards will remain valid for subway and bus access,  and the readers gradually being removed over time.

The MetroCard, introduced in 1993, revolutionized subway culture, replacing tokens that were officially discontinued in 2003.