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Starting Tuesday, October 10, folks riding the JFK AirTrain will finally be able to use the OMNY tap-and-go contactless payment system that was installed in every subway station almost three years ago. What took so long? We don’t know, but we’re glad we’ve finally reached this milestone.

In her announcement yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul explained that, as part of phase one of the project, officials will set up OMNY at specific gates at the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations. According to an official press release, the contactless readers will be “fully integrated into all fare gates.” by the end of 2024.

“In September subway and bus customers tapped more than 2 million times on a single day, and now they’ll be able to use OMNY at the AirTrain JFK for much quicker passenger flow to and from the airport,” said MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber in an official statement. “Whether you’re headed to catch a plane or returning home to New York, AirTrain riders can now take full advantage of this time-saving and seamless way to travel in the city.”

The news follows this past summer’s launch of OMNY on the Roosevelt Island Tramway, which is actually the first non-MTA-operated service to make use of the platform. 

Overall, New Yorkers have been fans of the MetroCard replacements since they were first installed back in 2020—and for good reason. Instead of spending time looking for a card in our always too-packed bags and swiping it, we can now simply tap the phone that’s always in our hands on a screen and move on with our day. Perhaps, officials will soon decide to implement the system on the Long Island Rail Road next?

* This article was originally published here

Though OMNY payments have become a popular fare choice for subway riders (at or above 45% of paid subway rides), JFK’s AirTrain has been a bit outdated…until now! Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced AirTrain JFK will start accepting tap-and-go (OMNY) payments ahead of travel season on Tuesday, October 10th.

“We are making it easier than ever for travelers to take the train to JFK, and for visitors to our great city to use one of its most essential services – the MTA,” Governor Hochul said. “As we continue to rollout OMNY throughout the system, I encourage everyone to take advantage of this service and travel safely.”

A one-way fare comes to $8.25 from Jamaica or Howard Beach stations. However, travel via AirTrain between airport terminals will remain free of charge. All AirTrain JFK stations remain open 24/7.

Contactless debit/credit cards, digital wallets and OMNY cards will all be accepted through the new payment system. MetroCards will remain an additional payment option at fare gates that accept them. All fare gates will have an OMNY reader installed by 2024.

“In September subway and bus customers tapped more than 2 million times on a single day, and now they’ll be able to use OMNY at the AirTrain JFK for much quicker passenger flow to and from the airport,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Whether you’re headed to catch a plane or returning home to New York, AirTrain riders can now take full advantage of this time-saving and seamless way to travel in the city.”

OMNY currently has a 79% fare payment satisfaction rate, with riders tapping across 472 subway stations, 204 local bus routes and 31 express buses.

“I am thrilled to see OMNY’s integration with the Air Train at JFK, a significant step towards enhancing transportation convenience for New Yorkers,” said New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams. “This technological advancement not only streamlines travel but also underscores our commitment to making transportation more accessible and efficient for our constituents. This innovation will only further Downtown Jamaica’s reputation as one of the most accessible transit hubs of the outer boroughs.”

The post AirTrain JFK Will Finally Accept Tap-And-Go Payments appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

As the MTA continues to see agency-wide ridership records, a new ad campaign known as “Courtesy Counts,” works to remind riders how to respect the MTA’s Code of Conduct.

The campaign consists of 34 illustrations with messaging to serve as a friendly reminder to:

• Keep seats clear for other riders
• Keep pets in carriers and service animals leashed
• Let people on and off the train without obstruction
• Not talk loudly on the phone
• Wear headphones
• Give everyone room to stand
• Not lay down and take up multiple seats
• Not to smoke or vape
• Not to hold the doors
• Not to charge electric vehicles
• Not to leave the emergency exit door open for others to enter without paying the fare
• Not to leave a bike unattended or obstructing space
• Not to litter

“In our busy lives, it’s easy to forget that your own individual behavior can have an impact on your fellow riders’ commute, and even their day, so why not be courteous,” said Acting Chief Customer Officer and Senior Advisor Shanifah Rieara. “The goal isn’t to lecture anyone, we just wanted to have a little bit of fun explaining our Rules of Conduct as ridership continues to grow.”

Copy messaging includes phrases like “If you don’t make the train, don’t make it wait,” and “Block punts. Don’t block doors.” Riders will be able to catch these digital ads across subway cars, buses, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North trains, and in station platforms.

“This campaign is especially important for the disability community and reminds customers what a difference it can make to keep doorways clear, or give up your seat to someone who needs it” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer and Senior Advisor Quemuel Arroyo. “While New Yorkers are busy and have a lot going on, we can all take a second to do the right thing and let another rider have an enjoyable time and pleasant ride.”

Though daily ridership was surpassing 5 million prior to the pandemic, September 20th, 2023 marked the highest post-pandemic single-day total for paid rides on consecutive days with 4,179,902 paid rides.

“As ridership continues to grow, we want to let our customers know to be courteous and don’t ruin the experience of your fellow customers,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara at a press conference. “Transit systems should be a welcoming place for everyone.”

The post MTA Reminds Riders To Keep Dogs In Bags & Not To Vape On Trains appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here