The Era of the New York City MetroCard Is Almost Over. Say Goodbye to the Iconic Yellow Passes With a New Exhibition

As the Metropolitan Transit Authority moves to a contactless, tap-and-go payment system, “FAREwell, MetroCard” allows visitors to learn more about the history of the long-running fare card

Sarah Kuta - Daily Correspondent

December 11, 2025 8:00 a.m.

Sales of the MetroCard will end December 31. Metropolitan Transit Authority

The MetroCard has been a New York staple for three decades, allowing riders to access the city’s vast public transit system. Now, however, the swipe-to-ride yellow ticket is being phased out as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) moves to a contactless, tap-and-go payment system called OMNY.

The New York Transit Museum is giving visitors a chance to say goodbye—and learn more about the iconic fare card’s origins—with a new exhibition.

Opening December 17 in Brooklyn, “FAREwell, MetroCard” explores the life and legacy of the MetroCard, including its status as a cultural symbol, using photos, advertisements, brochures and other historical materials.

“As OMNY ushers in a new era of fare payment, it’s important to remember the milestones that brought us here,” says Regina Shepherd, the museum’s acting director, as reported by Secret NYC’s Danielle Valente.

The exhibition, Shepherd adds, is meant to remind visitors “how innovation, design and human experience come together to shape the way we move through the city.”

MetroCard's first day in 1994 brings joy to token-using straphangers

The MetroCard—a thin rectangle with a magnetic strip—was introduced in the 1990s, launching initially at two Lower Manhattan stations before eventually expanding throughout the city. It was meant to replace the “cumbersome payment method” of subway tokens, wrote Gothamist’s Jen Carlson in 2022. It also made it possible to offer free transfers between buses and subways.

The MetroCard also brought expiration dates, balances and flexible rules to New York’s public transit system. Users could buy cards that offered unlimited rides over a set number of days, and certain riders—such as seniors and individuals with disabilities—could pay reduced fares.

Fun fact: The history of the New York City Subway

The subway’s first line opened to the public on October 27, 1904.

Early MetroCards were blue, not yellow, and MTA often changed up the design. It released various limited-edition collectible cards depicting stars like David Bowie or brands like Instagram, for example.

In 2010, a special MetroCard featured green text and a message about public transit’s lower carbon footprint in honor of Climate Week. And the long-running “Poetry in Motion” program featured poems and excerpts by writers from around the world.

Beyond the exhibition, MTA has been celebrating the end of the MetroCard throughout this fall and winter. It’s partnering with various eateries to offer special foods, like the La Tessera sandwich (“the card” in Italian) at Alidoro and MetroCard sprinkles on ice cream at Carvel. It’s also offering special merchandise, as well as MetroCard-themed pop-up photo opportunities at select subway stations and events.

Sales will officially end December 31, but riders will be able to continue using MetroCards in 2026. (MTA has not yet announced the final acceptance date.) Most riders have already made the switch to OMNY, which debuted in 2019 and allows direct payments via digital wallets, contactless credit and debit cards, and OMNY cards.

“While there’s no doubt the MetroCard will remain an iconic New York City symbol, tap-and-go fare payment has been a game changer for everyday riders and visitors, saving them the guessing game on what fare package is most cost efficient for their travels and making using NYC’s transit system much easier,” said Shanifah Rieara, MTA’s chief customer officer, in a March statement.

But the transition has not been without hiccups, as Stefanos Chen reported for the New York Times in July. A survey conducted by an independent consumer advocacy group found that many users have had problems with OMNY, such as delayed charges and long customer service wait times.

“There is a lot left to be desired in terms of communication,” Brian Fritsch, who works for the consumer advocacy group, told the publication. “We’re not there, we’re not close, and in some ways, at least in the short term, OMNY is a step back.”

“FAREwell, MetroCard” will be on view at the New York Transit Museum beginning on December 17, 2025.

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