The following statement can be attributed to Lisa Daglian, Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC):
“Chair Lieber’s announcement this morning that the MTA will end MetroCard sales at the end of 2025 marks a major milestone as our city and region progress toward a modern, integrated fare payment system. With 85% of full fare riders and more than half of reduced-fare riders using OMNY, it’s clear that riders are voting with their taps and growing accustomed to the new system.
“As Chair Lieber noted, this transition reduces operating costs for the MTA and opens the door for new fare discounts that can put money – and time – back in riders’ pockets. The creation of a weekly CityTicket for intra-city travel on the LIRR and Metro-North, a crucial aspect of PCAC’s Rider-First Fare Agenda, would do just that: unlocking faster commutes for New York City riders in subway deserts like the Eastern Bronx and southeast Queens. Today, trips taken by LIRR or Metro-North, with transfers to subways and buses, cost as much as $20 roundtrip, making commuting by railroad within the city unaffordable to many New Yorkers. We encourage the MTA to work with Governor Hochul and the Legislature to create a weekly CityTicket quickly and use OMNY as an opportunity for a more equitable and affordable region.”