NYC Subway Hits 3 Billion Contactless Taps

MTA's OMNY contactless payment system reaches 3 billion taps as September ridership hits 143 million

MTA Hits 3 Billion Contactless Payment Taps

New York City subway riders have tapped their way through a major milestone. The MTA's OMNY contactless payment system surpassed 3 billion taps on October 23, transit officials announced Thursday. The achievement comes as September 2024 subway ridership hit 143 million trips—the highest monthly total since March 2020, when the pandemic began.

Five Years of Payment Modernization

The MTA launched OMNY on May 31, 2019, replacing traditional MetroCard swipes with tap-to-pay technology that accepts credit cards, debit cards, smartphones, and wearable devices. Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, said the system's made it easier than ever for riders to access the subway. September's ridership represents about 65% of pre-pandemic levels, with weekday ridership averaging 3.6 million trips. The recovery signals growing confidence in public transit as New Yorkers return to offices and normal routines.

Technology Drives Ridership Growth

Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, said three billion taps shows how riders have embraced the technology. OMNY's revolutionized how people pay for transit, making it faster and more convenient to ride, he told reporters. Demetrius Crichlow, Senior Vice President of Subways at NYC Transit, said the subway system's the lifeblood of New York City. Officials didn't provide cost details for the OMNY system's implementation or comparative data from other transit systems with contactless payment.

Accessibility Benefits Highlighted

Quemuel Arroyo, Chief Accessibility Officer at the MTA, said OMNY's been a game-changer for accessibility. The ease of tapping a card or device removes barriers for many customers, including those with disabilities, he said. Officials are continuing to expand accessible payment options to make transit more inclusive. The agency didn't announce additional accessibility features or a timeline for future OMNY enhancements.

What Riders Need to Know

The contactless payment milestone reflects the system's growing adoption across all subway lines and stations. Riders can continue using OMNY at all subway stations throughout the five boroughs. The MTA's committed to maintaining service reliability and modernizing the customer experience as ridership continues recovering. Moovit provides real-time subway updates and trip planning for all MTA routes across New York City.