MetroCards to disappear after 3 decades: NYC's transit payment method will soon be obsolete

"Starting in January, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will no longer sell MetroCards. While MetroCards will still be accepted after this, the transportation agency will phase them out over the course of next year. With the transition, the MTA said it expects to save at least $20 million annually in costs related to MetroCard production and distribution, vending machine repairs, cash collection and handling."

"First introduced in 1994, the MetroCard's magnetic stripe ultimately replaced the transit token from everyday use and transformed the way commuters access the city's expansive MTA system. After the MetroCard debuted, it had transit tokens take their place "next to the buggy whip and trolley car," as the Advance wrote in 1995. The token would later be discontinued in 2003."

"The original MetroCards, for those who may not remember, had a blue background with yellow lettering. This design ran from 1994 through 1997. Between 1994 and the switch to the current gold design, the MetroCard has been decorated for historical and advertising purposes. These limited edition offerings have highlighted the best New York has to offer, from a 1994 campaign featuring then-Stanley Cup champions, the New York Rangers, to more recent designs like the commemorative Notorious B.I.G card."

Beginning in January, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will stop selling MetroCards and will phase them out over the following year while continuing to accept existing cards. The agency expects annual savings of at least $20 million from reduced production, distribution, vending machine repairs, and cash handling. The MetroCard debuted in 1994, replacing transit tokens and eventually leading to token discontinuation in 2003. The original cards featured a blue background with yellow lettering, later changing to a gold design and occasional limited-edition graphics celebrating sports teams, cultural figures, and historical themes. On Staten Island, MetroCard sales have historically been limited to a few vending locations.

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