The MetroCard, a magnetic card that replaced the old brass tokens on the New York subway, will no longer be sold on December 31st. The city’s transport system completes the migration to OMNY, a contactless payment platform. The MetroCard will still be accepted until part of 2026, but is in the final stages of discontinuation. The investigation is from the newspaper New York Times.
The card was launched in January 1994. At its debut, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reported that tokens were being replaced by the new payment method.
The first reactions were positive, highlighting practicality and less volume in the pocket. Despite this, adaptation was slow: in 1996, only 8% of the approximately 5 million daily users used the MetroCard.
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Three decades later, what was cutting-edge technology has become obsolete. Since 2019, the MTA has installed OMNY readers; By the end of 2020, the entire network already accepted contactless payments. Currently, 94% of trips are paid for by OMNY. According to the MTA, the transition recognizes the nostalgia of some users, but is considered necessary.
Before MetroCard, tokens — used for about 50 years — were easily shared and had visible value. The magnetic card, in turn, required balance checks at stations, offered different modalities (time or value) and required validation techniques. Rules such as the minimum interval of 18 minutes between uses on prepaid cards have generated confusion. In 2016, then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had to try five times to get through the turnstile in the Bronx.
There were also attempts at fraud, such as the irregular sale of cards and rumors about manipulation of the magnetic stripe — practices that could result in criminal charges. Over time, expired or no credit cards accumulated at stations.
The MetroCard brought relevant changes to transfers. The original model allowed for one free transfer per trip. In 1997, MetroCard Gold expanded transfer possibilities. Fares have evolved: at launch, the trip cost US$1.25; then $1.50.
The back of the card was widely used for public campaigns and cultural advertising, with references to artists, TV shows, museums and sports teams. This boosted the habit of collecting. The New York Museum of Transportation opened the “FAREwell MetroCard” exhibition, highlighting the card’s role in everyday life in the city.
With the end near, tribute initiatives emerged. The MTA promotes commemorative events and products, in addition to special versions of the card. Content creators and designers began producing items inspired by the MetroCard, and users report keeping old cards as souvenirs.
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According to the report, the farewell marks the end of a cycle that began in 1994 and the consolidation of contactless payment as a standard in New York public transport.
