History of OMNY in Timeline

OMNY is a contactless fare payment system used on public transit in the New York metropolitan area. It is currently active on the NYC Subway, Staten Island Railway, MTA buses, AirTrain JFK, Hudson Rail Link, Roosevelt Island Tram, Bee-Line buses, and NICE buses. Expansion plans include integration with the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, ultimately replacing the MetroCard system. OMNY provides a modern, tap-to-pay option for riders using contactless credit/debit cards, smartphones, and wearable devices.

1953: Subway Tokens Used for Fare Payment

In 1953, subway tokens had been used for fare payment in New York City.

1992: Replacement of Tokens by MetroCards Begins

Starting in 1992, subway tokens were replaced by MetroCards made by Cubic Transportation Systems, which used magnetic stripes to encode the fare payment.

1993: Introduction of the MetroCard

In 1993, the MetroCard, a magnetic stripe card, was introduced to pay fares on MTA subways and buses, as well as on other networks such as the PATH train.

1994: MTA Forms the MetroCard Company

In 1994, the MTA formed the MetroCard Company to explore the development of a joint transit/financial services payment card.

2000: Feasibility Study for Contactless Regional Fare Card

In 2000, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sponsored a feasibility study for a contactless regional fare card, which was conducted by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

2001: Approval of New Fare System for PATH

In 2001, the Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved a new fare system for the Port Authority Trans Hudson, which was seen as a first step toward an integrated regional fare payment system.

2003: Tokens Completely Phased Out

By 2003, tokens had been completely phased out.

July 2006: Contactless Payment Trial Begins

In July 2006, Mastercard and Citibank funded a trial of contactless payments, branded as PayPass, at 25 subway stations, mostly on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line.

December 2006: Contactless Payment Trial Extended

The contactless payment trial that started in July 2006 was popular enough to be extended past its original end date of December 2006.

2006: Contactless Payment Trial

In 2006, a contactless payment trial was conducted due to success.

November 2010: Contactless Payment Trial Concludes

In November 2010, the second contactless payment trial which started in June 2010 concluded. The 2010 trial initially only supported MasterCard-branded cards, expanding to Visa PayWave cards in August. The 2010 trial eventually expanded to include multiple Manhattan bus routes, two New Jersey Transit bus routes, and most PATH stations.

2010: Contactless-Payment Trial Conducted

In 2010, one limited contactless-payment trial was conducted around the New York City area.

2016: Security Breach of Fare Systems in San Francisco

Critics responded to the proposals with concerns about security and privacy, highlighting a 2016 security breach of fare systems in San Francisco.

2016: Formal Planning for MetroCard Replacement Starts

In 2016, formal planning for a full replacement of the MetroCard did start.

2016: MTA Announces New Contactless Fare Payment System

In 2016, the MTA announced that it would begin designing a new contactless fare payment system to replace the MetroCard.

October 2017: Installation of eTix-Compatible Turnstiles Begins

In October 2017, the MTA started installing eTix-compatible electronic ticketing turnstiles in 14 stations in Manhattan. The eTix system, already used on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, allows passengers to pay their fares using their phones.

October 23, 2017: Announcement of MetroCard Replacement

On October 23, 2017, it was announced that the MetroCard would be phased out and replaced by a contactless fare payment system also by Cubic, with fare payment being made using Android Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, debit/credit cards with near-field communication enabled, or radio-frequency identification cards.

June 2018: Revised Implementation Timeline for New Payment System

In June 2018, the MTA revised the timeline for implementation of the then-unnamed new payment system.

2018: Planned Partial Implementation of Replacement System

In 2018, the replacement system was initially planned for partial implementation.

February 2019: OMNY Name Announced

In February 2019, the name "OMNY" was announced as being "modern and universal". "OMNY" is an acronym for "One Metro New York", intended to signify its eventual broad acceptance across the New York metropolitan area.

March 2019: Internal OMNY Trial Launched

In March 2019, an internal trial launched, involving over 1,100 MTA employees and 300 other participants.

May 2019: Future OMNY Implementations Specified

At a presentation in May 2019, the MTA's Capital Program Oversight Committee specified future implementations for OMNY, including a mobile app, Access-a-Ride support, and all-door boarding on Select Bus Service.

May 2019: OMNY Public Rollout Begins

In May 2019, OMNY began its public rollout with the first readers installed at select subway stations and on buses in Staten Island.

May 2019: First Stage of OMNY Implementation

The first stage of implementation for OMNY would take place in May 2019.

May 31, 2019: OMNY Public Launch

OMNY launched to the public on May 31, 2019, on Staten Island buses and at 16 subway stations, initially supporting single-ride fares paid with contactless bank cards and mobile payments.

June 2019: Port Authority in talks with MTA to implement OMNY on PATH

In June 2019, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that it was in talks with the MTA to implement OMNY on the PATH system by 2022.

July 2019: Mastercard "Fareback Fridays" Promotion

In June and July 2019, Mastercard offered "Fareback Fridays" to promote the OMNY system, where it would refund up to two rides made using OMNY on Fridays.

October 2019: STOP criticizes OMNY privacy

In October 2019, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP) criticized the MTA and Cubic in a report on the OMNY system's privacy, expressing concerns about data collection and sharing with law enforcement.

November 2019: OMNY Expansion Announced

In November 2019, the MTA announced its first expansion of OMNY. Over the following month, 48 additional stations would be outfitted with OMNY readers, bringing the system to all five boroughs.

December 2019: OMNY Readers Installed on Staten Island Railway

In December 2019, the Staten Island Railway received OMNY readers.

December 2019: OMNY on Staten Island Railway

With the implementation of OMNY on the Staten Island Railway in December 2019, public transit in Staten Island became fully OMNY-compatible.

January 2020: OMNY Expansion to Manhattan Bus Routes

By January 2020 the OMNY system would be expanded to Manhattan bus routes.

February 2020: Double-charging warning for Apple Pay users

In February 2020, the MTA warned that Apple Pay's Express Transit feature could cause accidental double charges for customers also using a MetroCard. This issue occurred when phones were too close to OMNY readers, and was reported about 30 times.

June 2020: OMNY Project Budget Update

By June 2020, the OMNY project budget had risen to $677 million.

June 2020: OMNY Installations Delayed by COVID-19

From March to June 2020, no new OMNY installations were added due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.

July 2020: OMNY Installation Completed in Manhattan

OMNY installation in Manhattan was completed in July 2020.

July 20, 2020: All-Door Boarding with OMNY on Select Bus Service Begins

On July 20, 2020, all-door boarding at Select Bus Service routes with OMNY began.

October 2020: Target Date for OMNY Readers in all Subway Stations

In the second stage, all subway stations would receive OMNY readers by October 2020, in preparation for the third stage, which involved the launch of a prepaid OMNY card by February 2021.

November 2020: OMNY installation plans on LIRR and Metro-North being revised

As of November 2020, plans for OMNY installation on the LIRR and Metro-North were still being revised.

November 2020: OMNY Project Budget Update

By November 2020, the OMNY project budget had risen to $732 million.

November 2020: OMNY Readers Installed at AutoGates

In November 2020, OMNY readers were installed at AutoGates, where disabled riders could enter and exit the system.

December 2020: OMNY Active on All Buses and Subway Stations

By December 2020, OMNY had been rolled out to 458 subway stations, representing 97% of the total, and OMNY had been used 30 million times. On December 31, 2020, the MTA announced that OMNY was active on all MTA buses and at all subway stations, after the last OMNY readers were activated at Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum station.

December 31, 2020: OMNY Rollout Completed on Subway and Buses

On December 31, 2020, the rollout of OMNY on the New York City Subway and on MTA buses was completed.

December 31, 2020: OMNY readers installed in all subway stations and buses

As of December 31, 2020, all subway stations, the Staten Island Railway, and all MTA-operated buses were equipped with OMNY readers.

February 2021: Commuter railroad implementation of fare cards pushed back

In February 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed back the implementation of fare cards on the commuter railroads from February 2021 to June 2022.

February 2021: Launch of a Prepaid OMNY Card

In February 2021, the third stage involved the launch of a prepaid OMNY card.

June 2021: Delays in commuter railroads' mobile ticketing and vending machines

As of June 2021, there were delays in the commuter railroads' mobile ticketing system as well as vending machines, potentially delaying full rollout of OMNY by six months from the original projected completion date of July 2023.

June 2021: OMNY Project Budget Update

By June 2021, the OMNY project budget was $772 million.

July 2021: OMNY Usage Reaches One-Sixth of All Fares

By July 2021, one-sixth of all fares paid on the bus, subway, and Staten Island Railway were being paid through OMNY, and 100 million fares had been paid using the fare system.

October 1, 2021: MTA Begins Offering OMNY Contactless Cards

On October 1, 2021, the MTA began offering OMNY contactless cards.

October 2021: MTA considers fare cap on OMNY cards

In October 2021, the MTA considered enabling a fare cap on OMNY cards and devices, similar to Oyster cards. This would charge a pay-per-ride fare until a specified number of trips were made, after which the unlimited rate would apply.

October 2021: Physical OMNY card sales begin at retail locations

In October 2021, the MTA started selling a physical OMNY card at certain retail locations throughout New York City.

February 2022: Physical OMNY cards usage is low

By February 2022, less than 1 percent of all OMNY fares were being paid using a physical card, and 4,367 cards had been sold at stores.

February 2022: OMNY rollout on the LIRR pushed back to 2023-2024

By February 2022, the rollout of OMNY on the LIRR was pushed back to between 2023 and 2024.

February 28, 2022: Fare Capping Introduced on OMNY

On February 28, 2022, fare capping was introduced on OMNY.

March 2022: Implementation of unlimited cap to reduced-fare customers

As of March 2022, Reduced-fare customers were also eligible for the unlimited cap by making 12 trips in a week at $1.35 per ride, for a total cost of $16.20.

March 2022: Commuter railroad implementation of vending machines pushed back

In March 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed back the implementation of vending machines from March 2022 to June 2023.

March 2022: Installation of OMNY Vending Machines

The fourth stage involved the installation of OMNY vending machines by March 2022, and the MetroCard would be discontinued in 2023.

June 1, 2022: Reduced-fare MetroCard users can use OMNY with contactless bank cards

Since June 1, 2022, riders who qualified for reduced-fare MetroCards could also use OMNY with their contactless bank cards or smart devices, paying half the standard fare.

June 2022: Reduced-Fare Customers Allowed to Use OMNY

In June 2022, reduced-fare customers were allowed to use OMNY using their own debit or credit cards, which must be registered with OMNY.

June 2022: Commuter railroad implementation of fare cards pushed back

In June 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed back the implementation of fare cards from February 2021 to June 2022.

September 2022: Planned rollout to vending machines inside stations

In September 2022, the MTA planned to expand the rollout to vending machines inside stations.

October 2022: Reduced-Fare OMNY Activated

Reduced-fare OMNY was activated in October 2022, although it was not available to Fair Fares riders and students.

2022: Planned Full Implementation of Replacement System

In 2022, the replacement system was initially planned for full implementation.

June 2023: Commuter railroad implementation of vending machines pushed back

In June 2023, the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed back the implementation of vending machines from March 2022 to June 2023.

July 2023: Potential Delay in OMNY rollout for six months

In July 2023, there could potentially delay full rollout of OMNY for six months from the original projected completion date of July 2023.

August 2023: MTA removes trip history feature from OMNY website

In August 2023, the MTA modified the OMNY website to remove a feature that showed users' trip history, following a 404 Media investigation that showed it had a potential for abuse.

August 20, 2023: Monday-to-Sunday fare capping applied on OMNY

Until August 20, 2023, Monday-to-Sunday fare capping applied on OMNY. Users of OMNY paid the base fare on buses, subways, and the Staten Island Railway until they had paid a total amount equal to the cost of the 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard option for fares within a single week (from Monday to Sunday), upon which they did not pay fares for subsequent trips.

August 21, 2023: Base fare raised to $2.90, 7-day cap modified

When the base fare was raised to $2.90 on August 21, 2023, the 7-day cap was modified to apply to any consecutive seven-day period. In addition, the fare cap was raised to $34, so riders paid $2.90 for their first 11 trips and $2.10 for their 12th trip.

August 24, 2023: Roosevelt Island Tramway starts accepting OMNY

On August 24, 2023, the Roosevelt Island Tramway started to accept OMNY.

September 2023: OMNY Usage Highest in Gentrified Areas

The MTA indicated in September 2023 that OMNY usage was highest in gentrified areas with young, white, and well-off populations. At the time, OMNY was being used for 47% of subway rides and 30% of bus rides.

October 2023: AirTrain JFK to start accepting OMNY

In early October 2023, governor Kathy Hochul announced that the AirTrain JFK would start accepting OMNY on October 10, although some turnstiles would continue to accept MetroCards only.

October 30, 2023: OMNY machines activated at six subway stations

On October 30, 2023, OMNY machines were activated at six subway stations.

2023: Original MetroCard Discontinuation Date

In 2023, the MetroCard would be discontinued. Installation of OMNY vending machines in stations would be pushed back to the summer of 2023, with the discontinuation of MetroCards cancelled as further delays arise with rollout on regional rail and affiliate agencies.

2023: MetroCard Phasing Out Delayed

In 2023, the phasing out of the MetroCard, originally expected this year, has been delayed indefinitely.

2023: Original Discontinuation Target for MetroCard

The announcement on October 23, 2017 called for a phased rollout, culminating in the discontinuation of the MetroCard by 2023.

January 29, 2024: Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Rail Link began accepting OMNY

On January 29, 2024, the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Rail Link began accepting OMNY.

May 2024: Students and reduced-fare MetroCard users to receive OMNY cards

In May 2024 the MTA announced that students and reduced-fare MetroCard users would begin receiving OMNY cards later that year.

May 2024: Fair Fares Program Pilot with OMNY Cards

In May 2024, a small number of people enrolled in the MTA's Fair Fares program were allowed to begin using discounted OMNY cards as part of a pilot program. By then, 55% of subway rides and 34% of bus rides were being paid for using OMNY.

May 2024: MTA hires contractors to implement OMNY on LIRR and Metro-North

In May 2024, the MTA announced that it would hire two existing contractors, rather than Cubic, to implement OMNY on the LIRR and Metro-North.

September 5, 2024: First students issued OMNY cards

On September 5, 2024, the first students were issued OMNY cards. The cards were initially not issued to students who lived within 0.5 miles of their schools.

December 13, 2024: OMNY Reduced Fare cards released for seniors and disabled patrons

On December 13, 2024, OMNY Reduced Fare cards were released for seniors and disabled patrons.

December 2024: Reduced-fare OMNY cards ready for seniors and disabled riders

By December 2024, reduced-fare OMNY cards for seniors and disabled riders (including Access-a-Ride customers) were ready to be distributed, while the Fair Fares OMNY card had yet to be rolled out.

December 2024: Reduced Fare OMNY Cards Rolled Out

In December 2024, Reduced Fare OMNY cards were rolled out.

February 2025: New Fair Fares customers start receiving OMNY cards; MTA to repair bus OMNY fare readers

From February 2025 onward, new Fair Fares customers began receiving OMNY cards. Also in February 2025, the MTA announced it would spend $4.5 million to repair OMNY fare readers on buses because the fare readers kept detaching.

February 2025: OMNY began distributing reduced fare cards to low-income riders

In February 2025, OMNY began distributing reduced fare cards to low-income riders through the Fair Fares NYC program.

February 2025: Fair Fares OMNY Cards Available

In February 2025, another form of Reduced Fare OMNY cards, given to low income residents through the Fair Fares program, became available.

March 2025: MTA announces end of MetroCard sales and distribution

In March 2025, the MTA announced that sales and distribution of the MetroCard would end that December.

June 2025: Visa fixes technical issue with OMNY

In June 2025, Visa Inc. addressed a technical problem that led to OMNY readers attempting to charge some Visa credit-card holders multiple times for a single trip.

July 2025: Survey reveals issues with OMNY fare media

A July 2025 survey of 400 riders found that three-fourths had experienced issues with their OMNY fare media. Common complaints included OMNY readers not accepting valid fare media, payment delays on bank statements, and overcharging. Additionally, OMNY readers did not display card balances after fare payments. In response, in 2025, the MTA proposed displaying remaining balances on OMNY readers.

July 2025: OMNY used by 75% of fare-paying riders

In July 2025, the MTA reported that 75% of fare-paying riders used OMNY and that customer satisfaction was largely positive despite widespread reports of glitches.

December 2025: Discontinuation of MetroCards

With the discontinuation of MetroCards in December 2025, all remaining reduced-fare MetroCard users were to be given OMNY cards, although elderly reduced-fare riders reported difficulties obtaining their cards.

2025: OMNY card available in every subway station and stores

By the end of 2025, every subway station and approximately 2,700 stores sold OMNY cards.

2025: Issues with pre-tax benefit cards and customer service

In 2025, The City reported that riders were unable to use cards eligible for pre-tax federal transit benefits. Additionally, contacting customer service was often difficult when problems arose. Students also reported delays in replacing nonfunctional or lost paper OMNY cards, which were easily damaged.

2025: MetroCard to be discontinued

In early 2025, the MTA announced that the MetroCard would be discontinued.

December 31, 2025: Sales and Distribution of MetroCard Ended

On December 31, 2025, sales and distribution of the MetroCard ended.

January 4, 2026: OMNY Activated on NICE and Bee-Line Buses

On January 4, 2026, Westchester County's Bee Line and Nassau County's NICE bus system activated OMNY.

January 2026: The only unlimited option as of January 2026 is the fare cap system.

As of January 2026 the only unlimited option is the fare cap system

January 2026: Customers cannot buy or refill MetroCard

As of January 2026, customers cannot buy or refill a MetroCard.

January 2026: 7-day fare cap only unlimited option available

As of January 2026, the only unlimited option available on OMNY is the 7-day fare cap, and 30-day options were discontinued.

2026: Plans to allow students to pay using smartphones and sturdier cards not implemented

Following complaints about the student cards, the MTA announced plans to allow students to pay using smartphones and to use a sturdier material for the cards, though neither plan had been implemented as of 2026.