New York City Retires the MetroCard: The End of an Iconic Era in Public Transit

When the MetroCard replaced the New York City subway token in 1994, the swipeable plastic card introduced a much-needed sense of modernity to one of the oldest and largest public transportation systems in the world. Now, more than three decades later, the gold-colored fare card—with its notoriously unreliable magnetic stripe—is following the token into retirement.

According to the Associated Press, the last day to purchase or refill a MetroCard will be December 31, 2025, as the transit system fully transitions to OMNY, a contactless payment system that allows riders to tap a credit card, smartphone, or other smart device to pay fares—just as they would for everyday purchases.

Transit officials say that more than 90% of subway and bus rides are already paid for using the electronic payment system, which was introduced in 2019. Major cities around the world, including London and Singapore, have long used similar contactless systems. In the United States, San Francisco launched its own prepaid system earlier this year, joining Chicago and others.

A Revolution in How New Yorkers Move

Jodi Shapiro, curator of the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn—which opened an exhibit earlier this month reflecting on the MetroCard’s legacy—says the humble MetroCard may have outlived its usefulness, but it was revolutionary in its time.

Before MetroCards, bus and subway riders relied on brass tokens introduced in 1953, which were purchased at station booths. When the subway first opened in 1904, paper tickets cost just five cents, equivalent to about $1.82 today.

“There was resistance to change from tokens to anything else because tokens worked,” Shapiro said during a recent visit to the museum, located underground in a decommissioned subway station. “MetroCards introduced an entirely new way of thinking for New Yorkers.”

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched public awareness campaigns to teach riders how to swipe the original blue cards correctly, hoping to avoid the dreaded error message—or lost fares. Over time, the cards became collectible items, with the transit system releasing special commemorative editions celebrating major events, such as the 2000 “Subway Series” World Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees, when the fare was $1.50.

Over the years, the plastic cards featured artists ranging from David Bowie and Olivia Rodrigo to iconic New York hip-hop groups and figures like Wu-Tang Clan, The Notorious B.I.G., and LL Cool J, as well as beloved New York television shows such as Seinfeld and Law & Order.

“For me, the most meaningful cards are the ones that present New York City to the world,” said Lev Radin, a MetroCard collector in the Bronx. “Not just images of landmarks and skylines, but images of the people who live here and make New York what it is.”

Mastering the correct angle and speed of a MetroCard swipe became a badge of honor distinguishing true New Yorkers from visitors. During the 2016 presidential campaign, former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton failed five times to enter a Bronx subway station. To be fair, her main Democratic rival at the time, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont—originally from Brooklyn—did not even seem to realize that subway tokens had been discontinued.

Cost Savings and Trade-Offs

Unlike the rollout of the MetroCard, the OMNY system required only minor infrastructure changes. Riders who do not wish to use a credit card or smart device can purchase a reloadable OMNY card, similar to a MetroCard. Existing MetroCards will continue to function through 2026, allowing riders to use any remaining balance.

The MTA says the transition will save at least $20 million annually in MetroCard-related costs. The new system also allows for unlimited free rides within a seven-day period, with fares capped after 12 trips. The weekly fare cap will reach $35 once the base fare increases to $3 in January.

However, the shift comes with trade-offs, as some critics have raised concerns about data collection and surveillance associated with contactless payment systems.