MTA to launch contactless fare system by 2015
20 May, 2011
category: Contactless, Transit
New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is doing away with the old MetroCard ticketing system in favor of a new open fare contactless system, according to Yahoo! News.
Expected to launch in 2015, the new system will allow subway riders to pay for fares by passing their contactless credit cards in front of a sensor, rather than sliding them through a magnetic reader. For those who don’t have contactless credit cards, contactless ‘MTA Cards’ will be provided at vending machines and ticket booths.
The new MTA Cards will allow customers to add money to their accounts by going online, rather than waiting in line at a Metrocard vending machine. Fares will still be available in single ride, weekly, monthly or unlimited.
According to Yahoo! News, the new system should all but eliminate the labor and waste involved in constantly restocking and maintaining MetroCard vending machines, as well as cut down on criminals selling illegal rides. Additionally, the MTA says the system should be considerably faster and experience fewer computer glitches.
Read more here.