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Enabling faster, smarter travel across New York through digital fare transformation

New York’s fare system gets a digital upgrade with contactless payments and smartcards
One Metro New York
Transportation

Jacobs is serving as the prime consultant for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), working with MTA Construction and Development and New York City Transit (NYCT) on the design, procurement and implementation of its next-generation fare collection system.

Known as OMNY (One Metro New York), the system introduces contactless payment options, allowing customers to pay fares using MTA-issued smartcards or personal credit or debit cards, including those stored in mobile wallets. The system replaces the aging MetroCard and brings a more modern, flexible fare payment approach across the NYCT network.

Jacobs supported the MTA with a comprehensive assessment of current and emerging fare technologies to evaluate their applicability across the region’s complex, multimodal transit network. The team also supported the development of all procurement documents and helped manage the procurement process. Jacobs is currently supporting the technical design review, system implementation and equipment installation across 472 subway stations and approximately 5,850 buses.

Jacobs, in collaboration with PA Consulting, supported the MTA in redesigning its internal teams as the service grew in popularity, handling more than 2 million taps per day. The work included creating the operating model and organizational design for the operations and service team, as well as defining critical connections with other teams and stakeholders. 

As part of a phased rollout, Jacobs is supporting testing efforts, including internal trials and public pilots.

  • The OMNY project advances the integration of modern fare payment technologies across one of the most complex transit networks in the world. Our focus on system design, interoperability and implementation strategies support a scalable, future-ready solution for the metropolitan region’s transit infrastructure.
    Jim Beers
    Jacobs OMNY Project Director

MetroCard sales are scheduled to end in 2025. To support the transition, Jacobs is assisting MTA in several key areas:

  • Migrating all rider groups—including Reduced-Fare customers, students, employees and emergency personnel—to OMNY
  • Managing installation of OMNY vending machines and removal of MetroCard machines across the subway system
  • Coordinating with affiliated agencies to prepare for systemwide adoption of OMNY
  • Enhancing the customer experience through upgraded mobile apps and new payment options

OMNY delivers a more convenient and connected transit experience for millions of New Yorkers.

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