Welcome, Reduced-Fare customers! Now you can tap to pay your fare with OMNY. OMNY is our fare payment system that lets you pay your subway or local bus fare by linking your Reduced-Fare benefit to a smartphone, wearable device, or a contactless debit or credit card for reduced-fare rides and free transfers.
Reduced-Fare OMNY cards will be available soon, but if you're ready to tap and go with your own contactless device or card, we're ready for you.
How to link your Reduced-Fare benefit to OMNY
If you already have a Reduced-Fare MetroCard with your photo on it, you can switch to OMNY, the MTA’s new contactless fare payment system, at any time:
- Visit the OMNY website and follow the prompts in the Digital Assistant, found in the bottom right corner of the homepage. It takes you through the simple step-by-step process of switching to OMNY. Have your Reduced-Fare MetroCard and your credit or debit card handy.
- You can also visit our Customer Service Center at 3 Stone Street, any of our mobile sales vehicles, or one of our new Customer Service Centers in subway stations to switch to OMNY.
Note: You can only link and use one form of payment for reduced fare — either the card itself or a device with your linked card enabled in a digital wallet. The digital assistant will help you make that choice.
Linking to OMNY will not immediately deactivate your Reduced-Fare MetroCard. You can keep your MetroCard to:
- Spend down any remaining value before your card expires.
- Receive reduced fares on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
- Receive reduced fares on NICE Bus and Westchester Bee-Line
- Receive transfers between Westchester Bee-Line and NYC buses and subways.
Reduced-Fare OMNY cards
If you want to wait for a Reduced-Fare OMNY card, they will be issued soon. They will have similar functionality to today’s MetroCards, along with the ability to reload value online, at retail locations, or in subway stations using OMNY vending machines (coming soon).
How to apply for Reduced Fare
If you believe you qualify for our Reduced-Fare program, but have not yet applied, you can apply to join the Reduced-Fare program at any time:
- If you apply in person at our 3 Stone Street Customer Service Center or a mobile sales vehicle, you have the option to put your Reduced-Fare benefit on your own contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device and start to tap and go with OMNY!
- If you apply online or by mail, we will send you a Reduced-Fare MetroCard if you are approved for the program. Once you receive your MetroCard, you can switch to OMNY. Visit the OMNY website and follow the prompts in the Digital Assistant, found in the bottom right corner of the homepage. It takes you through the simple step-by-step process of switching to OMNY. Have your Reduced-Fare MetroCard and your credit or debit card handy.
Switch from EasyPay to Reduced-Fare OMNY
If you like EasyPay, you’ll love OMNY. You never need to add value to your card — the half-priced cost of your trip will automatically be charged each time you ride, when you use your designated Reduced-Fare OMNY payment method.
Once you’ve set up your Reduced-Fare OMNY payment method, close your EasyPay account for a refund of the remaining balance. To close your EasyPay account:
- Email us.
- Call the EasyPay Account Service Center at 1-877-323-7433.
How to use Reduced Fare with OMNY
Benefits of OMNY for Reduced-Fare customers
- Reduced-Fare OMNY offers the same half-price fare that customers receive today, with free transfers.
- You can pay with your smartphone, wearable device, or contactless debit or credit card — there's no need to carry or find an MTA-issued card.
- Manage your fare payments with a free, optional OMNY account.
- Tap more and save. Tap the same contactless card or device as many times as you want within a 7-day period and never pay more than $17. Learn more about the fare-capping program.
- If you wait for a Reduced-Fare OMNY card, you will be able to set up automatic reloads on that card with an online OMNY account.
OMNY is accessible
We’ve incorporated various features at subway stations, on buses, on the website, and with our customer service operation to make OMNY accessible to all customers. OMNY readers have large text and screen colors with visual contrast, as well as audio tones that let you know if a payment has been accepted or declined.
Stay tuned for more information as we continue the rollout.