The MetroCard is on its last legs – and OMNY is the new way to pay for public transportation in New York City. But, how does it work?

New York City is perhaps the best large city in the United States for public transportation. Since 1993, the MetroCard has reigned supreme as the best way to pay for public transit – but its days are numbered. The new system, called OMNY, promises a more efficient experience. But, how does it work? What does it mean for visitors?

Citations:

• OMNY. https://omny.info
• Duggan, Kevin. (Nov 15, 2021) “PATH trains to get OMNY-like tap-and-go fare payment in 2023.” AMNY.  https://www.amny.com/transit/path-trains-to-get-omny-like-tap-payment-in-2023/
• (Mar 26, 2022) “Roosevelt Island Tram On Google Maps, OMNY By Year End & Boarding Preference For Residents/Workers.” Roosevelt Islander.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmnf0rLn88
• Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OMNY_logo.svg
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority. http://web.mta.info/metrocard/where_accept.htm
• (Jun 21, 2019). “OMNY to land at all PATH train stations in Manhattan, New Jersey.” AMNY. https://www.amny.com/transit/omny-path-train-1-32719416/
• Wikimedia Commons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Transportation_Authority#/media/File:MTA_NYC_logo.svg
• Garber, Nick. (Jun 24, 2022).
  “OMNY’s Delayed Rollout To JFK AirTrain Must Be Sped Up, Lawmakers Say.” Patch. https://patch.com/new-york/queens/omnys-delayed-rollout-jfk-airtrain-must-be-sped-lawmakers-say
• Wikimedia Commons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Universal_Contactless_Card_Symbol.svg
• Westchester County. “OMNY/Bee-Line.” https://transportation.westchestergov.com/omny
• (Dec 12, 2019) “MTA’s OMNY payment system to replace LIRR, NICE bus fare system.” News12.  https://bronx.news12.com/mtas-omny-payment-system-to-replace-lirr-nice-bus-fare-system-41442760
• Stone, David. (May 12, 2022). “OMNY for the Roosevelt Island Tram? You Won’t Like This Answer.” Roosevelt Island Daily.  https://rooseveltislanddaily.news/2022/05/12/omny-for-the-roosevelt-island-tram-you-wont-like-this-answer/
• Audio: “First” by Text Me Records