The MTA is now testing OMNY (One Metro New York) card vending machines in six subway stations and last month the MTA and Port Authority introduced contactless open payment at the Howard Beach and Jamaica JFK AirTrain stations.
The MTA’s investment in this technology will vastly improve rider experience, particularly at the airport as jetlagged riders arriving at JFK can now join the millions of subway and bus riders who can now tap-to-pay directly at the turnstile using the smartphone or credit card already in their pockets (and soon OMNY card). Gone soon will be the days at JFK of waiting in lines for a MetroCard vending machine.
Frictionless fare payment at AirTrain is the latest in a string of under-the-radar but crucial wins for the city’s transit system and the countless commuters and tourists who use the system every year.
The announcement came just weeks after OMNY made its way to the Roosevelt Island Tramway, and is part of a highly productive run for the MTA. Over the past several months, the agency also increased weekend service frequency on the G, J, M, C, N, No. 1 and No. 6 lines, cutting down wait times for daily commuters — myself included — on those lines from 11 minutes to eight on average.
Under the leadership of Gov. Hochul and MTA Chair Janno Lieber, the MTA also announced the opening of seven stations with new elevators and plans to open another six by the end of this year. That means more New Yorkers than ever — including those in need of ADA accessible transit, parents with strollers, and others with mobility challenges — can use the fastest, most cost-effective and climate-friendly way to get around the city.
The MTA has also made improvements to bus service, including the fare-free Q70 — running on a dedicated bus lane to LaGuardia Airport. And they have heavily increased investment in bus lane enforcement camera technology, bringing the total number of cameras to 585 on 20 routes, to prevent cars from blocking lanes and keep buses moving across the five boroughs.
Starting just a few weeks ago, the Q4, B60, M116, Bx18, S46 and S96 buses also do not require a fare to ride. Hochul and the MTA — as part of the 2023 budget deal with the Legislature — are piloting this program to increase public transit ridership by easing the burden on low-income commuters in several communities.
These investments in service and expanded access are showing up in the numbers. As the back to school season kicked off, the governor announced OMNY recorded 2.3 million taps systemwide on consecutive days. These record-setting days are made possible by the MTA’s savvy use of OMNY to cap the amount a customer will spend on subway and bus fares at $34 in seven days — the same price as a 7-day unlimited MetroCard but with the financial flexibility to pay-as-you-go, not up-front. This came soon after OMNY logged its billionth tap this summer.
Integrating contactless payment technology into our transit system has also unlocked historic improvements for riders with reduced fares, including the elderly and differently-abled New Yorkers. In fact, the MTA is now the only transit system in America where riders can access reduced fare benefits using open payment technology. Now, any rider with a reduced fare MetroCard can switch to OMNY online without needing to travel in-person to the MTA customer service center.
While some of these victories may seem like subtle changes, by zooming out and looking at the bigger picture New Yorkers will see the MTA is transforming how passengers experience New York’s public transit system, and how that system operates. By prioritizing a more convenient transit system that is accessible for all New Yorkers, and using technology to help get it done, the MTA is building a better transit system and a more efficient agency — one that puts people above all. And these changes are especially impactful for lower income New Yorkers.
I’m also excited about where the MTA will go next. There is no shortage of exciting opportunities to expand open fare payment to other partners in the region, including the MTA’s own commuter railroads and the suburban bus systems, Westchester Bee-Line and the Nassau Inter-County Express. Bring the technology to the broader universe of New Yorkers in the tri-state area who rely on mass transit to get around. I would love to see OMNY expand to our waterways, too.
To truly thrive, public transit must be accessible, reliable, and convenient for everyone. Hochul and Lieber have made these goals a top priority, and technology like OMNY helps make them a daily reality for everyone who lives in, works in, and visits New York.
Holloway is the former NYC deputy mayor for operations.
Original Source
NY Daily News: https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/03/this-is-a-new-era-for-the-mta-improving-the-ride-for-passengers/