Taps Used at Every Subway Station and Bus Route
OMNY Users Are from All 195 Countries That Issue Credit Cards
View Video of Today’s News Conference
View Photos from Today’s News Conference
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Metropolitan Transportation Authority customers have tapped into the transit system more than one billion times using the OMNY fare-payment system. To celebrate, officials hosted renowned tap dancer Ja'Bowen Dixon at the 74 St-Jackson Heights subway station, where the billionth rider, Candida Alfonso, tapped into the system at 10:47 AM and received an OMNY gift bag complete with an OMNY $100 value to their digital wallet, an OMNY baseball hat and t-shirt.
"As the we continue to work to provide safer, cleaner and faster transit, reaching one billion OMNY taps is evidence that our hard work is paying off," Governor Hochul said. "OMNY is a key part of our efforts to modernize the MTA and make it easier for people to get around New York. I am proud that we have reached this milestone, and I look forward to continuing to build on our progress in the years to come."
Customers have used OMNY to tap into all 472 subway stations. Customers have also tapped to board 204 local bus routes and 31 express buses with OMNY. OMNY continues to expand. Nearly half of all subway riders are using OMNY to tap into the system with two million riders using OMNY every day. OMNY has processed cards from all of the 195 countries that issue bank cards and 68 percent of OMNY transactions are made by customers tapping digital wallets in phones and wearables.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “New Yorkers are always on the, making it critical that we provide the fastest and easiest way to pay your fare. Customers at every stop on the subway and across every bus route have moved to OMNY-- what better endorsement than that?”
MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said, "Bus and subway customers have experienced the convenience of OMNY firsthand with over a billion taps and I look forward to even more customers discovering the benefits of it. With no need to preload funds, OMNY is proving to be the most economical, secure, and hassle-free option for customers; all you have to do is tap to ride."
Assemblymember Catalina Cruz said, "OMNY has truly made the lives of New Yorkers easier. Today we celebrate the MTA's 1 billionth OMNY swipe, which has made our system more convenient for millions of New Yorkers. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, it also made our system safer by allowing riders to contactlessly swipe. I am excited to see the future of OMNY and the MTA in our great City!"
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, "All New Yorkers want and deserve a quick and efficient mass transit system. The OMNY system has been one key piece of the puzzle as we work to create such a system — just ask anyone who's gone through a subway turnstile or boarded a bus with one easy tap. Congratulations to the MTA on reaching 1 billion OMNY taps. My office looks forward to our continued partnership as we make our mass transit system more reliable for all New Yorkers, regardless of ZIP code or socioeconomic status."
One Billionth OMNY Tap Customer Candida Alfonso said, "I first started using OMNY precisely the same time as the pandemic in March. I help care for sick people, so as an essential worker I needed to switch from cash to OMNY. This is my stop where I catch the train."
Reduced-fare customers helped make the one billion milestone possible because they can use personal devices and contactless cards to tap with OMNY since last October. They are encouraged to seamlessly make the switch from MetroCards online with the OMNY digital assistant, which is available 24/7 at OMNY.info. This how-to video has more information.
OMNY is the MTA's contactless fare payment system — and it's the easiest, most secure and flexible way to pay the subway or bus fare and enjoy free transfers and free rides earned from fare capping. Riders do not have to sign up or download an app, or even preload funds to use OMNY; simply use a contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY card to tap and go. Visit here for more details.