Installation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s new tap-and-go payment system, OMNY, is running more than a year late, the Gothamist news outlet reported Monday.
The system is 15 months behind schedule, Gothamist said. It quoted Amy Linden, the acting lead for MTA Fare Payment Programs, as saying, “Substantial completion for the project has slipped.”
Linden made her comments during a committee meeting that day, saying that despite the delays, a quarter of subway and bus riders now pay with OMNY, which stands for One Metro New York.
The system, which is set to replace the MetroCard, was supposed to have been rolled out entirely by 2023. Now, however, the final design for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North part of the project is not expected to be done until the end of that year or early 2024, according to Gothamist.
The article also said the cost of the entire project to convert all MTA trains and buses to OMNY will be at least $772 million, with some changes still being negotiated. The initial contract was for $573 million.
10 comments:
Can't even use it on the AirTrain, what a waste
I switched to OMNY because I got sick and tired of my Metrocard "expiring." Why in hell should it EVER expire? Anyway, OMNY works fine on the subway, but no surprise at all that it's another expensive boondoggle.
The iron law of New York State and City: EVERYTHING the government touches is a grift.
This article doesn't explain how you pay, it says you tap and go, how? what?
How about senior discounts?
Singapore had the "oyster card" tap and go system TWENTY YEARS AGO. The USA is a third world country. Prove me wrong!
Italian and Irish union thugs maxing out the clock
"no one's doing it" - human nature, resist change as long as possible unless there are benefits to an alternative. To be fair, you'd really need to find a video of the turnstiles back in 2002, which was the year before tokens were phased out (MetroCard is due to be phased out next year.)
Years ago, the Mint / Bureau of Engraving tried to get people to use those dollar coins instead of paper bills. It didn't work because they never stopped printing singles. The coins would have saved the taxpayers money as coins are much more durable. If only they phased out paper, who'd have a problem with carrying a few coins?
"If only they phased out paper" You are nuts !
@Anonymous
The lifespan of a dollar bill is less than 7 years. Coins last for decades. If they switched from paper money to coins, taxpayers would save in the long run. Why is this concept nuts?
https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/how-long-is-the-life-span-of-us-paper-money.htm
Why the MTA just doesn't have a MetroCard that you can put in your Apple or Google wallet is beyond me.
Post a Comment