It’s the end of the line for the MetroCard
Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr
The MetroCard, the iconic fare payment method for New York City’s public transit system, is now officially a thing of the past. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) retired the card, ending the era of the signature transit payment method that replaced tokens and became a cultural icon since its debut in 1994, and marking a major step in the MTA’s transition to the tap-and-go OMNY system.
While New Yorkers knew the day was coming, the retirement of the MetroCard remains a difficult moment for many who grew up using the cards and adopted them as part of the city’s cultural identity. In March, the MTA announced that card sales would end on December 31, and retail partners like bodegas and drugstores stopped selling them in the fall.
The agency’s long-delayed replacement of the MetroCard with OMNY began in 2019. Although the MTA initially planned to fully retire the card by the end of 2023, the timeline was repeatedly pushed back due to the pandemic and delays in delivering OMNY card vending machines.
Riders can still use their MetroCards for payment through 2026, with the MTA expected to announce the official end date at a later time. Last December, an MTA consultant told Gothamist that the full rollout of OMNY may not be completed until the end of 2026.
When it arrived in the early 1990s, the MetroCard represented cutting-edge technology and a major modernization of NYC’s fare system, eliminating the need for tokens. It also transformed how New Yorkers traveled and managed their budgets with the introduction of free transfers between buses and subways in 1997 and the launch of seven- and 30-day Unlimited Cards on July 4, 1998.
The card quickly became more than a mere payment method—it turned into a canvas for self-expression. Over the years, limited-edition and promotional cards featuring artists, athletes, entertainment icons, and city landmarks have further cemented its role in the cultural landscape of the five boroughs.
To bid a fond farewell to the MetroCard, the New York Transit Museum opened a new exhibition on December 17, tracing the fare card’s story from its conception and early advertising to the technology that brought it to life. Titled “FAREwell MetroCard,” the exhibit features a 1997 MetroCard machine, limited-edition cards, and other notable artifacts.
The end of the MetroCard comes as the MTA prepares to raise the base fare from $2.90 to $3 on January 4, 2026. Reduced fares will increase from $1.45 to $1.50, and express bus fares will rise from $7 to $7.25. Planned increases to the 7-day fare-capping program were scaled back from $36 to $35 following rider feedback.
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