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Bye, bye SmartLink: Old PATH cards going out of service Sept. 1
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Aug 8, 2026
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Ramsey Khalifeh / Gothamist
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Aug 8, 2026
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New Jersey commuters crossing the Hudson will soon have to say another goodbye.
First, it was the MetroCard, which many Garden State riders used when they transferred onto the subway system in Manhattan for work and other needs. And by the end of this month, they’ll have to say goodbye to SmartLink, the deprecated turquoise PATH train card featuring Lady Liberty looking towards the horizon.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — which owns and operates the PATH system — announced this week that SmartLink and MetroCards would no longer be accepted as a method of payment to ride, starting on Sept. 1.
These days, most PATH stations only have one or two turnstiles that still accept the outdated cards. Port Authority officials said 96% of their riders already use the new TAPP card system — introduced in 2023 — which allows riders to use their credit cards, digital wallets or TAPP cards to pay.
But unlike the MTA’s new OMNY system, PATH riders can still purchase unlimited single-day, seven-day and 30-day passes on TAPP cards.
Élan Carmel and his daughter.
Ramsey Khalifeh / Gothamist
“We carefully planned the transition of TAPP for PATH riders as we move the system into the future,” Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole said in a statement. “From coins to tokens to paper tickets and then to durable cards with embedded chips, each change has been an embrace of new technology to make it easier to ride with us.
“The end of SmartLink is the beginning of a new chapter in PATH’s journey to a modern transit system capable of supporting the region’s growth and development.”
And what a journey it's been. The SmartLink card was first rolled out nearly 20 years ago in 2006. Before then, PATH riders had to buy single-use paper QuickCards that had magnetic strips to swipe for rides. The MetroCard was also an option. Older commuters will also remember the metal tokens before that, much like the ones used in New York City’s subways.
At the World Trade Center PATH station earlier this week, 52-year-old Paramus resident Élan Carmel said he still remembers the payments of the past.
“The card is a staple. I’ve been living in this area my whole life, and I’ve had the blue MetroCard, the yellow MetroCard. My father was a cab driver in the city for 35 years, so I have every variation of the token for the subway,” Carmel said.
But he also supports progress: “I believe that technology gets better. It’s designed to make our lives easier and more efficient.”
Tagged
new jersey
new york city
transportation
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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