In 2019, the MTA launched a pilot program of its new tap-to-pay system, known as OMNY, that will eventually replace swiping a MetroCard. The fare technology is rolling out in phases, allowing transit officials to iron out the kinks as they work toward fully retiring the MetroCard in 2023. With OMNY, riders can bypass lines to refill their MetroCards and simply tap their contactless bank cards or mobile wallet app on their smart phones to pay the fare. Omny EMV card

“OMNY is designed to save New Yorkers their most precious commodity: their time,” said Pat Foye, the chairman of the MTA, at an event launching the system last year. The contactless payment method is especially relevant in light of COVID-19. The pandemic, so far, has not affected the timeline of OMNY’s rollout.

OMNY has steadily expanded across the city and has been used more than 10 million times by New Yorkers and tourists from 130 counties. The system started with 16 subway station on the 4, 5, and 6 lines in Manhattan and Brooklyn between Grand Central-42 Street and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center; riders have also been able to try out OMNY on all Staten Island buses since the system’s launch.

Now the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched a physical Omny EMV payments card to enable passengers travelling on the city’s subway and bus services to make closed loop contactless ticketing payments.

The MTA is rolling out the reloadable Omny card as an additional tap-and-go option for passengers who do not have—or do not wish to use—a bank card or digital wallet to pay their fares on the transit authority’s open-loop contactless payment system.

“Beginning in October 2021, the Omny card will make its way to retail locations throughout New York City,” the MTA says.

“In the coming weeks, you will be able to buy a new Omny card or reload an existing Omny card at those retail locations. Pay with cash or card.”

Users who register for an Omny account will also be able to reload their card online.

The MTA revealed its plans to launch a physical Omny contactless fare card in January after completing the rollout of the open-loop ticketing system.

What does OMNY mean, anyway? Omny EMV card

The OMNY system stands for One Metro New York and is based on the prefix “omni,” meaning “of all things.”

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