MTA’s OMNY Surpasses 50 Million Taps

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) contactless has recorded more than 50 Million taps and will replace the MetroCard by 2021.

There are currently more than 15,000 OMNY readers at all 472 subway stations, on all 5,800 buses and at Staten Island Railway stations. Customers can use OMNY to pay their fares by a simple tap of their contactless credit card or mobile device. 

On an average weekday, the MTA receives 307,000 OMNY taps. Seventy-nine percent of those are at subway stations and the other 21% are on buses. The highest one-day tap total since OMNY was launched in May 2019 came on March 5, with 339,000 taps.

“OMNY is the easiest way to pay the fare and we’re happy to see so many New Yorkers agree and are using it to get where they need to go,” said Sarah Feinberg, Interim President of MTA New York City Transit. “Just tap your phone, your card, or even a smartwatch and you’re on your way. It’s faster than swiping and one less card to worry about.”

“The OMNY team was able to complete the installation of readers at all subway stations and on all buses, and it is clearly paying off,” said Al Putre, MTA OMNY Fare Payment Program Executive Director. “Using OMNY is super convenient and easy, just Tap and Go, no waiting on lines or mis-swipes and it’s only going to get better with the introduction of more fare options and the OMNY card later this year.”

OMNY currently accounts for nearly 10% of all taps in the system, 12.4% in the subway system and 4.5% on buses. A year ago, that figure was at over 4% and the figure is expected to grow throughout 2021.

Beginning this year, customers will be able to purchase the OMNY card – a contactless fare card – at retail locations throughout the region. OMNY will also begin expanding fare options in 2021 with the introduction of reduced fares for senior customers and riders with disabilities and the integration with paratransit services. The card will eventually be available at vending machines in stations as well.

Improvements to the digital experience are also set to debut this year, including a refresh of the OMNY website and the launch of the OMNY mobile app. These efforts will give customers additional flexibility and choice in where, when and how their fare is paid.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT MTA FARE PAYMENTS AND OMNY:

• The MetroCard was first tested in the system in 1993, debuting to the larger public in January 1994. All turnstiles were MetroCard-enabled by May 1997 and all buses began accepting it by the end of 1995. Tokens were sold until April 2003 and acceptance was discontinued that May in subway stations and that December on buses.
• OMNY readers accept contactless cards from companies such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and others.
• Following the completion of OMNY installation at all subway turnstiles and on buses, the MTA will gradually introduce all remaining fare options and programs, including reduced fares for seniors and customers with disabilities, student fares, and more.
• In 2021, the MTA will introduce an OMNY card at retail locations throughout the New York region.
• Also in 2021, the MTA will begin to install new vending machines at locations throughout the system.
• Only after OMNY is fully available everywhere MetroCard is today, expected in 2023, will the MTA say goodbye to the MetroCard.
• Purchasing fare with cash will remain an option. Additional info about OMNY is available at https://OMNY.info.

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