New OMNY fare cards: how much they cost, where they are sold and who needs them

New York is now one step closer to officially ditching the legendary MetroCard. Earlier this month, City Transportation Administration (MTA) started distributing OMNY cardsthat can be used to pay for public transport fares. Who needs them and why, the edition figured out Silive.

Omny, a new contactless fare collection system in New York, has been phased in over the past two years and is now available across the entire MTA system. This means that it operates at all 472 tube stations, at all 5 bus stations and at all rail stations in Staten Island.

The system allows passengers to use bank cards, smartphones or other smart devices to pay for public transportation in New York. The new card will help those who do not have these devices or do not want to use them to use the system.

How much does an OMNY card cost?

The purchase of an OMNY card will cost passengers $ 5 plus the amount of money they choose to load onto the card.

The $ 5 surcharge for the OMNY card seems like a dramatic increase over the $ 1 charge for the new MetroCard, but passengers can use the OMNY card for almost five times longer. OMNY cards only expire seven years after the date of purchase. And the MetroCard expires in 18 months.

OMNY cards can be topped up at the stores where they are sold or at the internet. To do this, you need to create an OMNY account and link the card.

Where to buy

MTA delivers OMNY cards to retail locations throughout the city. They are currently available at chain pharmacies, check cashing points and local stores. That is, in the same place where MetroCards are currently available.

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An MTA spokesman warned that once the cards are shipped anywhere, the agency has no control over whether they are immediately available for purchase. This means that some of the locations that received the cards may not have put them up for sale yet.

For now, those looking for an OMNY card may have to ask around the locations where they previously purchased MetroCards to see if a new card is currently available at that location.

In the coming months, MTA will launch an online tool that allows shoppers to view retail stores in their area where OMNY cards are available. This tool, according to a spokesperson, similar to existing MetroCard Merchant Locator device.

Later this year, the MTA will begin installing OMNY vending machines at metro stations and other transit hubs throughout the city. This will provide passengers with the ability to quickly and easily purchase and top up their cards.

Do you need an OMNY card

While many people are anxious to get their hands on a new card, only a small number of passengers will actually need it, and then not right now.

The vast majority of passengers will never need to buy an OMNY card. They can continue to pay for the fare using their smart device or bank card. Millions of citizens have already done this since the introduction of the new system.

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Only those who do not have a bank account will need an OMNY card. And also for those who do not have other means of contactless payment. That is, those who use only cash to pay for travel.

But even these people have more than a year to purchase an OMNY card because MTA will continue to support MetroCard for the next year, before phasing out it entirely in 2023.