MetroCard (New York City) - Future of The MetroCard

Future of The MetroCard

In 2006 the MTA and Port Authority announced plans to replace the magnetic strip with smart cards. In February the Port Authority unveiled a $73 million smart card system in the newly built World Trade Center PATH station. The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) SmartLink card contains an antenna attached to a computer chip inside the card, which can be read by turnstiles without requiring passengers to swipe cards. This card will eventually replace the magnetic-strip QuickCard accepted at PATH turnstiles.

As of March 31, 2006, Metrocard Vending Machines have replaced PATH QuickCard machines at PATH stations.

The New York City subway and bus network will eventually use this same technology. A consortium of New York metropolitan transit agencies, including the Port Authority and New Jersey Transit, will test different versions and introduce a single standard. In the future all New York City area transit systems will use the same "contactless" payment system.

On July 1, 2006, MTA launched a six-month pilot program to test the new "contact-less" smart card fare collection system, initially ending on December 31, 2006 but extended until May 31, 2007. This program will be tested at all stations on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line and at four stations in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. The testing system utilizes Citibank Mastercard's Paypass keytags. Anyone with such a tag can apply to participate. This smart card system is intended to ease congestion near the fare control area by reducing time spent at paying for fare. MTA and other transportation authorities in the region say they will eventually implement system-wide.

Since April 1, 2007, Metrocards are used as fare media on the Westchester County Bee Line bus system. Westchester County DOT has entered into an agreement with the MTA to pool revenue from the Metrocard fare system. Pay-per-ride and Unlimited Ride Metrocards are now accepted on all Bee-Line local buses and the BxM4C (Route 28) express bus, with a fare and transfer structure identical to NYC Transit bus/subway system. This includes transfers between Bee Line buses and NYC Transit bus/subway lines in the Bronx and Manhattan.

In April 2008, in observance of Earth Day, the MTA released five million "Green MetroCards" in an effort to promote environmental awareness. The lettering was green in color and the back of the card had factoids on ways to save the environment.

Beginning October 7, 2012, MetroCard vending machines scattered throughout Manhattan dispensed something other than the classic blue and gold MetroCard. The MTA has begun to sell advertisement space on the front and back of the card to raise additional revenue. The ad appearing on the cards was purchased by The Gap and reads: "Be Bright NYC" with multicolored letters on a navy blue background. It encourages New Yorkers to visit Gap's newly remodeled flagship store at 34th Street and Broadway starting October 10, 2012. Customers who present the MetroCard at any Gap store were entitled to a 20% discount on merchandise purchases through November 18, 2012. The MetroCard is also meant to encourage people to ride public transportation and reduce traffic congestion on the streets. While the Gap ad is the first to appear on the fronts of cards, the first advertisement to appear as part of the MTA's new self-managed MetroCard advertising initiative is an ad from Health Plus, which encourages those who see it to call for free or low-cost health insurance sponsored by New York State. The MTA has been running advertisements on the back of MetroCards for a few years now, but this is the first time the front of the cards have changed in over 10 years. This last occurred when the MTA integrated the cards on both subways and buses and started offering free transfers. Approximately 10% of the MetroCards sold throughout the system in a typical month will carry the Gap ad. But the MTA anticipates that the next full-face advertising campaigns will appear on MetroCards in December and January. Future MetroCard advertising campaigns will include the word "MetroCard" on the back of the card, flush right in the white space above the zone available for advertising. This advertisement program is seen as being beneficial to both, businesses and the MTA. Businesses and companies are encouraged to contact the MTA for additional information about advertisement space on the front or back of the MetroCard.