The MTA is still working out some kinks in its new OMNY tap-to-pay system, which will be the only way to pay for subway and bus trips in New York City when the MTA retires the MetroCard at the end of this year.
Riders have highlighted several issues with the new technology in recent months, such as temporarily being charged multiple fares for a single trip and being unable to determine when they qualify for free rides through the MTA’s “fare capping” policy that limits how much riders are charged every week.
The MTA initially planned to retire the MetroCard by the end of 2023, but issues with the OMNY rollout pushed that deadline back by two years. The entire transition began in 2017, and has taken more than eight years to finish…