A pilot program is in the works to replace the New York City MetroCard with a chip-enabled smart card, according to the New York Times.

Unlike the current MetroCard, which use magnetic-stripe technology, smart cards are waved in front of a sensor, rather than swiped. This aims to eliminate any delays at the turnstiles, where riders are often held up by malfunctioning MetroCards.

“Anything we can to do to make it easier for our customers to get on, to get off our system, is the right thing to do,” said Joseph Lhota, chief of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The improved system will also support variable fare pricing at different times of day and riders will be able to add money to their accounts via credit or debit card using an online Web portal.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority had original proposed to replace the MetroCard system back in 2009, but a limited budget and lack of enthusiasm lead to it being placed on the back burner.

Read the full story here.