MTA Contactless Payment Passes 21 M Taps

NEW YORK CITY — The new contactless MTA fare payment system that will replace the iconic MetroCard has surpassed 21 million taps.

MTA officials highlighted the milestone for OMNY — which allows straphangers and riders to pay fares with their devices or contactless credit cards — this week, along with its expansion to 77 percent of subway stations.

OMNY likely will be in every subway station and bus by the end of the year, if the current pace holds, according to a release.

“The continued success of our OMNY rollout shows that when the MTA dedicates itself to a critical modernization project, we can do great things,” said Sarah Feinberg, Interim New York City Transit President, in a statement.

The system will replace MetroCards by 2023. Its use has grown 90 percent during the pandemic and now accounts for 8.5 percent of all fares, a release states.