the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, New York City’s iconic yellow-and-blue MetroCard is being officially phased out after more than 30 years of service. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber confirmed the news during a speech on Wednesday, announcing that MetroCards will no longer be sold after December 31, 2025.
The move paves the way for the full transition to OMNY, the MTA’s contactless fare payment system that has steadily replaced the aging MetroCard since its rollout in 2021.
“Goodbye, MetroCard. You served us well,” Lieber said at a Crain’s New York Business event. “But it’s time to retire you to the Transit Museum, to spend many happy days with your old friend, Mr. Token.”
The End of an Era: MetroCard’s Legacy
First introduced in 1993, the MetroCard replaced subway tokens and became a symbol of daily life in NYC. Its simple, utilitarian design quickly became iconic, appearing on T-shirts, mugs, pins, and even in art installations through the MTA Arts & Design program.
More than just a fare card, the MetroCard became a cultural touchstone — and, for many, a nostalgic part of city life.
“I think there will be something lost,” said Lilly Tuttle, Curator at the Museum of the City of New York. “MetroCards will feel retro, like the subway tokens that came before them.”
When Will MetroCards Stop Working?
While sales of MetroCards will end after December 31, 2025, Lieber confirmed that they will continue to work for at least six months afterward, giving New Yorkers time to make the switch.
OMNY: The Future of NYC Transit
OMNY (One Metro New York) is the MTA’s contactless fare payment system, which works via mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) or a $5 physical OMNY card. The system has been slowly integrated across subway stations and buses, with MetroCard kiosks already being replaced by OMNY vending machines since late 2023.
Key OMNY Benefits:
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Contactless convenience
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Free rides after 12 taps in a week
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Mobile-friendly and tap-to-pay access
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Faster turnstile entry and improved fare tracking
“Making it easier to pay and more affordable means more riders,” Lieber said. “Contactless fare payment is faster, more convenient, and allows for dynamic discounts and promotions.”
From Tokens to Tap: A Fare Evolution
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1970s: Idea of a MetroCard first floated by City Councilmember Carol Bellamy.
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1993: MetroCard officially introduced.
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1994: First AFC (automatic fare collection) turnstiles installed at Whitehall Station.
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1999: MetroCard vending machines rolled out across subway stations.
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2003: Subway tokens officially retired.
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2021–2025: OMNY replaces MetroCard across MTA system.
“New Yorkers hate change,” said Jodi Shapiro, curator at the New York Transit Museum. “But after time, people adapted to the MetroCard, and now the same will happen with OMNY.”
MetroCard as Art and Identity
The MetroCard also lived a second life in NYC’s artistic community. Through initiatives like the MTA Arts & Design program, cards became canvases—most notably in 2009, when 7 million cards were printed with just the word “Optimism.”
From wearable jewelry to mixed media art, the MetroCard has remained both a tool and an emblem of New York’s unique spirit.
Final Thoughts: Farewell, MetroCard
As the MTA moves toward a fully digital and contactless system, the MetroCard’s place in the city’s collective memory is secure. While OMNY promises speed, savings, and seamless travel, the MetroCard’s legacy will continue — as a collector’s item, a piece of NYC lore, and a reminder of how the city once moved.
So, if you have an old MetroCard, you might want to hold onto it — someday, it could be as cherished as the subway token.
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