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MetroCards To Be Replaced By Microchips, Unicorns
By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 8, 2011
Modified May 8, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 8, 2011
Modified May 8, 2011
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It's almost time to kiss those de-magnetizing flimsy excuses for transit currency goodbye. The MTA is planning on phasing out MetroCards and replacing them with sturdier, microchip-implanted "MTA Cards," says the Daily News. On Tuesday, the agency will release a "140 page roadmap" of the future to technology-related companies in the hopes that one of them will create what the MTA's CFO calls "E-ZPass for transit."
In this neoteric wonderland "three or four years in the future," riders will "place or tap their 'contactless' credit or debit card in front of a sensor" to pay for a fare, or fill their MTACard with a desired amount of money and tap their way through a turnstile. The MTA will also save money by not having to constantly refill the vending machines with MetroCards, and machine maintenance is also expensive. And if you own one of those nifty MetroCard works of art: congratulations! You'll have a period piece on your hands.
What's not mentioned in the Daily News story is that cities like D.C. and Chicago have had this sort of system for years (minus the ability to swipe your credit card for a fare). Why has this taken so long? We've been stymied at a turnstile on multiple occasions only to learn that our MetroCard magically lost its money, and missed many a train because of a finicky touchscreen. True, this system will allow the MTA to charge more at peak hours, as they do in D.C., but we're convinced that this is the ONLY thing D.C. has on this town (and their cards have Barry's face on them!). So hurry up MTA!
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Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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