The MetroCard is still technically in use, but many New Yorkers are already grieving its forthcoming retirement. The New York Transit Museum opened a “FAREwell MetroCard” exhibit on Tuesday, setting the scene in a room dyed the familiar blue and yellow of the card. Inside, the exhibit traces the system’s 34‑year story, which will culminate on Dec. 31.
Curator Jodi Shapiro explained that the city resists change. “New Yorkers especially don’t like change. If there’s something that works – even if the technology behind it is a little outdated – New Yorkers don’t want to let it go,” she told The Post.
A Brooklyn visitor, Dan P., who was born just one month after the MetroCard debuted, called the funeral‑like display “the best thing they’ve ever done,” adding that “It’s a piece of history for sure.”
In March, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that sales and refills of the plastic cards will cease at the end of 2025, as the city shifts toward the OMNY tap‑to‑pay system. The news sparked a wave of nostalgia, with some commuters treating the card as a city icon and rushing to collect the last remaining “old‑school” versions.
However, most vending machines have already been removed. Only a handful remain, including one at the 241st Street station in the Bronx, where a man shrugged off the new technology in favor of the familiar swipe.
“I’m an old‑school guy, so I’m just going to use it for a while. As soon as it stops working, I will get the OMNY card,” he said.
Henry Amfo, 47, complained about frequent overcharges with OMNY and admits he still buys MetroCards whenever he can. “I don’t trust these machines,” he said, noting that many passengers share his concerns.
MTA chief Janno Lieber still promotes the pay‑as‑you‑go plan and recently revealed that buses traveling into Westchester and Long Island haven’t yet been fitted with OMNY.
Because so few vending machines remain, the only realistic way for the average rider to see the iconic yellow card now is in the museum’s glass cases in Downtown Brooklyn.
The exhibit preserves dozens of cards, from the original blue design to limited‑edition releases featuring celebrities, Subway‑Series games, and artwork. The most expensive collectible was likely the 2022 Biggie Smalls MetroCard, which sold on eBay for up to $350.
While some patrons appreciated the museum’s touch, others lamented what was lost. Delilah Delgado, a Bronx resident who has fully embraced tap‑to‑pay, remarked that “camaraderie” will die with the MetroCard.
“What’s cool about it, we would pass each other the MetroCard. With OMNY, you don’t get that camaraderie,” she told the exhibit.
She added that growing up in the Bronx, the card was a part of daily life and its disappearance, even for the sake of efficiency, left her feeling a little sad. She even wished she could keep her student‑issue cards.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
