The New York City (NYC) subway and bus system is one of the most efficient public transportation systems in the world. Ridership across both is approximately eight million daily and more than 2.5 billion journeys annually. Cubic Transportation Systems (Cubic) has worked with (MTA) for nearly three decades now, starting with the implementation of the entire subway system accepting MetroCard, a magnetic swipe card allowing customers to load fares electronically. Today, more than 90 per cent of trips taken on NYC subways and buses are made with MetroCard.

As part of an ongoing modernisation programme, the current swipe MetroCard is expected to be phased out by 2023. It is to be replaced by OMNY, a fare payment system enabling travellers to pay with mobile and open payments via contactless bankcards and mobile wallets or MTA-issued contactless smart cards, to improve customer convenience and service for travellers.

Cubic was selected by the MTA to deliver and manage this major project based on the success of Oyster. A similar next-generation fare payment system used on the bus, underground and rail services that the company designed and implemented for Transport for London (TfL).

The new OMNY system allows customers to create personalised transit accounts to see travel history, check balances, add value as well as report lost or stolen cards to protect their funds. As a result, customers will experience greater convenience and shorter lines, allowing them to move faster through the transit system. Read more here.