New York Subway Completes Rollout of Apple Pay Support

[MacRumors]

After suffering substantial delays, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has completed its rollout of Apple Pay support to all buses and subway stations in the city via its OMNY contactless fare payment system.

With the OMNY contactless payment system, riders are able to hold an iPhone or Apple Watch near a contactless reader to pay their fare with no authentication necessary, allowing for speedy passage through public transit hubs.

OMNY tap-and-go fare payments with Apple Pay Express Transit support became available at one of New York City's major transportation hubs, Penn Station, back in December 2019, followed by a number of other stations in early 2020. The rollout was originally intended to continue, but installation of the new digital readers was paused in late March, delaying completion until December 2020.

The New York installation has now been completed network-wide, according to an OMNY announcement.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1344704070058192898

At this time, OMNY only works for individual rides and it is not yet possible to pre-pay for an unlimited ride pass. MetroCards, which predate the OMNY system, will continue to work on subway and bus systems until 2023, when it will be fully replaced by OMNY.

Article Link: New York Subway Completes Rollout of Apple Pay Support

 

[Optheduim]

I love OMNY! I’ve been using it for a while now. However, it’s unclear how OMNY will be utilized when they implement it on commuter rail (metro north/LIRR). Further, I’m disappointed to hear they are delaying the commuter rail expansion to 2022.

 

[Teammm]

Apple Pay is super convenient. Period.

 

[Le Big Mac]

About time.

Anyone know if you can transfer a metrocard balance to OMNY? I didn't see anything in FAQs, and I'm guessing no, but . . .

 

[black_knight]

What a huge win for people that utilize the transportation system and also own an iPhone!

 

[gnomeisland]

I love it but I'll be more excited they roll out support for unlimited ride cards, although until the pandemic is over even that's less critical.

 

[Appleman3546]

I guess one way to greatly increase adoption is to prevent competitor software from accessing the hardware that you use ... and when an anti-trust lawsuit rules otherwise, the competitive advantage from that adoption rate is already high

 

[jayducharme]

What a huge win for people that utilize the transportation system and also own an iPhone!

It will be a bigger win when the pandemic’s over and people no longer have to wear masks. Until then, it’s actually less convenient (unless you have a TouchID device).

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

I'm just amazed it took this long. Apple Pay has been on the London Underground for years now.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

MTA did the hard part. however, debit/credit card issuers for commuter benefits haven't yet supported digital wallets or contactless payments..

This means reduced payment through pretax commuter benefits is not enabled yet until the issuers like Edemnred support it.

 

[ignatius345]

What a huge win for people that utilize the transportation system and also own an iPhone!

More than that -- anyone with a contactless credit card or any phone with NFC.

 

[ignatius345]

I'm just amazed it took this long. Apple Pay has been on the London Underground for years now.

The MTA is underfunded and the NYC subway system is massive and old. I'm not remotely surprised.

 

[alfonsog]

It will be a bigger win when the pandemic’s over and people no longer have to wear masks. Until then, it’s actually less convenient (unless you have a TouchID device).

But you don't have to unlock the phone...

 

[audunj]

It will be a bigger win when the pandemic’s over and people no longer have to wear masks. Until then, it’s actually less convenient (unless you have a TouchID device).

You can set a "transit express card" that doesn't require FaceID to use - you just tap and go. I've been using it like that for weeks on my XS and it's super convenient.

 

[AdonisSMU]

The MTA is underfunded and the NYC subway system is massive and old. I'm not remotely surprised.

They probably had to find a way to justify paying some middle men who are just grifting off the top.

 

[subi257]

MTA did the hard part. however, debit/credit card issuers for commuter benefits haven't yet supported digital wallets or contactless payments..

This means reduced payment through pretax commuter benefits is not enabled yet until the issuers like Edemnred support it.

I use my Edemnred commuter debit card to buy NJ Transit tickets on the transit app and it works okay. I guess the MTA will take longer.

 

[SirChristopher]

I love it! Not having unlimited pass this past year wasn't a huge problem because of the pandemic (most people were only riding every now and then). But moving forward, as things begin to normalize, they'll need to roll that out quick.

I'm surprised to hear they're completely phasing out MetroCards though, although it makes sense. I suppose that means no more MetroCard machines, and therefore no more need to pay for one worker + one security guard to empty them periodically....and the costly maintenance of the machines will be a thing of the past.

I do wonder how they'll admit access to those without a phone or credit card to ride, although my guess is if you don't have a phone/CC you're probably turnstile jumping anyway (unfortunate reality).

 

[Jayayess1190]

I love it! Not having unlimited pass this past year wasn't a huge problem because of the pandemic (most people were only riding every now and then). But moving forward, as things begin to normalize, they'll need to roll that out quick.

I'm surprised to hear they're completely phasing out MetroCards though, although it makes sense. I suppose that means no more MetroCard machines, and therefore no more need to pay for one worker + one security guard to empty them periodically....and the costly maintenance of the machines will be a thing of the past.

I do wonder how they'll admit access to those without a phone or credit card to ride, although my guess is if you don't have a phone/CC you're probably turnstile jumping anyway (unfortunate reality).

There will be an OMNY card as a replacement.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

The local Speedway gas stations FINALLY enabled Apple Pay months ago, just in time for lockdown joy riding. It took them MONTHS, over a year, since they replaced pumps at stations around here. In some stations, they just added the attachmennt to some pumps, but in others, they completely replaced the pumps and the receivers were harks with 'COMING SOON' and no hope of knowing how long until it arrives. But at least they did it. Krogers is STILL digging in their heels and refusing to consider Apple Pay at all. Home Despot did use it for a few weeks years ago, but I don't think they have enabled it at all.

I've never seen a better time to use contactless payment systems. Kroger started their 'scan it yourself' system which seems to be a super spreader nightmare instead of using Apple Pay, or any other system. How many other stores/corporations are ignoring contactless payment?

 

[MrKennedy]

About time.

Anyone know if you can transfer a metrocard balance to OMNY? I didn't see anything in FAQs, and I'm guessing no, but . . .

Hasn't been possible since they started the rollout.

Hoping we can transfer our MTA cards covered by work when things return to "normal".

 

[MrKennedy]

You can set a "transit express card" that doesn't require FaceID to use - you just tap and go. I've been using it like that for weeks on my XS and it's super convenient.

I love this feature. Wish other apple pay transactions could be this quick!

 

[Drogba11]

Might be convenient for tourists but it doesn’t support multiple trip cards, no good for us commuters.

 

[Daum]

About damn time. Subways in the states are way behind compared to the rest of the world.

 

[MrKennedy]

Might be convenient for tourists but it doesn’t support multiple trip cards, no good for us commuters.

My guess is once the contactless OMNY cards rollout we'll get the mobile support 7-day, 30-day, etc.

Right now single trip pricing is working for me, as I'm only using the subway maybe 2-3 times a week.

 

[Drogba11]

My guess is once the contactless OMNY cards rollout we'll get the mobile support 7-day, 30-day, etc.

Right now single trip pricing is working for me, as I'm only using the subway maybe 2-3 times a week.

I use the EasyPayXpress card that just tops up automatically, I hope they add support for it cause it’s tied to my commuter card. Probably won’t be back in the office for a while though.