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RAIL EMPLOYMENT & NOTICES



Rail News Home Passenger Rail

10/28/2025



Rail News: Passenger Rail

MTA surpasses 3 billion 'taps' on contactless payment system


The three billionth tap-to-pay customer was identified as Russell Levy, pictured with MTA officials.
Photo – Marc Hermann/MTA

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The 3 billionth tap on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's contactless fare payment system for New York City Transit's subway and bus networks was processed on Oct. 22, coinciding with post-pandemic record-high ridership on the NYCT subway system the same week.

Tap-to-pay is used by nearly 90% of subway and bus riders. MTA anticipates converting the final 10% of traditional MetroCard users to tap-to-pay by opening more service centers by the end of the year, MTA officials said in a press release.

In September, MTA finished installing 900 OMNY contactless pay cards kiosks in stations across the subway system. MetroCards will stop being sold in 2026.

For two consecutive days in October, more than 4.5 million riders took the subway. The previous record was set during holiday shopping season in 2024, MTA officials said in a press release.