Latest news with #OMNY
Time Out
15-07-2025
- General
- Time Out
74% of NYC subway riders are having issues with OMNY, says new study
New Yorkers are pros at adapting—pizza on the go, walking faster than most people jog—but the city's transition to OMNY, the MTA's tap-and-go fare system, has been anything but smooth. A new study reveals that a whopping 74-percent of riders are experiencing issues with the system, which is set to fully replace the MetroCard by year's end. The survey, conducted by the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee (PCAC), polled nearly 400 subway, bus and commuter rail riders. Among the most common complaints? More than 40-percent said the OMNY readers didn't register their tap, 34-percent cited delayed charges and 31-percent believed they were flat-out overcharged. And if you thought it was just your phone acting up, you're not alone—glitches peaked in early June following a system update. TikTok and Reddit lit up with frustrated riders comparing horror stories and accusing OMNY of taking them for an unexpected ride. 'There definitely was a concentration of issues right around beginning of June,' said Brian Fritsch of the PCAC. 'We just think that there's work left to do to get it totally ready for the time when the MetroCard is no longer in service at all.' The MTA, for its part, is pushing back. 'Every day more than 4 million riders choose to tap to pay for travel in every borough, bus stop and subway station,' Jessie Lazarus, MTA's deputy chief of commercial ventures, told the New York Times. She dismissed the PCAC study to CBS News as a 'tiny online push poll' and pointed to internal surveys showing 84-percent of subway riders are satisfied with OMNY. Still, some riders say they're not feeling the love. Bronx commuter Mario Arias told CBS, 'Yesterday, I put $20. Today, no work.' Brooklyn resident Keenan Lambert added, 'After three days, it's not working anymore.' Beyond failed taps and billing confusion, the real sticking point may be the quality of customer service. Nearly 70-percent of those who filed complaints said their issues weren't resolved. One rider reported waiting on hold for an hour, only to have the call dropped. Despite the growing pains, MetroCard sales will officially end this December, with OMNY taking over full fare duties in 2026. And while the MTA promises fixes are on the way—including visual balance checks and restored trip histories—riders still holding onto their swipe cards might not be so eager to let go just yet.
Time Out
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out
A new map shows where New Yorkers' rent increased the most by subway stop
If you've felt like your rent is creeping up faster than the express train at Union Square, you're right. A new NYC Subway Median Rent Map from RentHop confirms what many already suspected: Rent prices increased near 87-percent of subway stations this year. That's 412 stops where your wallet might be gasping for air, up from 84-percent last year. The citywide median is now at a soul-crushing $4,700, the highest on record. RentHop's annual map breaks down median one-bedroom rents by subway station and this year's edition paints a clear picture: More New Yorkers are ditching lease renewals in pricey Manhattan and heading for the outer boroughs, only to find that rent hikes followed them there. Steinway Street in Queens tops the chart with a 14.29-percent jump, landing at $3,000. Over in the Bronx, 183rd Street saw a 14.19-percent spike to $2,278, while Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn swelled to $2,800, up 14.03-percent. Even sleepy stops like Bronx Park East (13.5-percent) and Kingsbridge Road (13.3-percent) weren't spared. Why the citywide spike? RentHop points to New York's new congestion pricing program, which has boosted subway ridership by 7-percent in the first half of 2025. As more commuters opt for OMNY cards over car keys, subway adjacency remains a hot (and costly) commodity. Developers are also part of the story. New construction in neighborhoods like Astoria, Fordham Heights and Brighton Beach brought fancy amenities—and higher rents—to outer-borough blocks. And while these buildings offer more inventory, they often lease well above the area's median. Still, there are a few pockets of relief. Only 40 stations—just 8-percent—saw rent drops, including parts of Williamsburg along the L and G lines and several 4 and 6 train stops in the Bronx. Ave N (F) takes the prize for biggest dip with a 5-ercent decrease. So, what's a renter to do? You're likely stuck choosing between a higher rent bill or a longer commute. Either way, may the odds—and your budget—be ever in your favor.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- New York Times
Can Subway Riders Learn to Love OMNY?
Good morning. It's Friday. Today we'll look at the hiccups plaguing OMNY, MetroCard's contactless successor, according to a survey that came out yesterday. We'll also look at why 31 police officers were fired. The token and the MetroCard each had a long run, and each, in its own way, became a symbol of the subway system. OMNY, the new tap-and-go payment system that is permanently replacing MetroCard at the end of this year, has a lot to live up to — and so far, some straphangers aren't happy. Reports abound of overcharging, poor communication and other glitches, according to a survey released on Thursday by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority watchdog. My colleague Stefanos Chen, who covers transit, reported on the survey's findings. Below, the takeaways. Almost three-fourths of OMNY users have reported some kind of problem with the payment method, the survey from the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the M.T.A. found. The most common issue respondents raised was a payment error: Nearly a third of survey respondents believed OMNY had overcharged them. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
As MetroCard Phases Out, Riders Gripe About Its Replacement
As the MetroCard nears the end of its more than two-decade run as New Yorkers' entry pass to the transit system, its high-tech successor, OMNY, faces an uphill battle for riders' approval. Nearly three out of four people who have made the switch to the new tap-and-go payment system said they have had problems with it, according to a report by an independent watchdog of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that controls the buses, subway and other transit in the region. The survey, conducted in June and July and released Thursday, was published by the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the M.T.A., a consumer advocacy group that makes recommendations to the transit authority. Nearly 400 subway, bus and commuter rail riders responded to the questionnaire. The most common complaint, made by 42 percent of respondents, was that their OMNY payments sometimes failed to register at fare gates, forcing them to tap repeatedly. More than a third of users said they had received charges hours or days after tapping, with nearly as many believing they had been overcharged, though the vendor that runs the software insists that is not the case. Others complained of long wait times for customer service and a lack of transparency. 'There is a lot left to be desired in terms of communication,' said Brian Fritsch, the advisory committee's associate director. 'We're not there, we're not close, and in some ways, at least in the short term, OMNY is a step back.' The report comes after several complaints of technical glitches that have raised questions about the system's readiness only months before the MetroCard is scheduled to be officially discontinued at the end of December. OMNY is expected to become the primary way to access all 472 subway stations, the AirTrain, and 348 bus routes citywide. (MetroCards will still be accepted for the time being, but no new cards will be sold.) Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
20-06-2025
- CBS News
Some riders claim MTA's OMNY system is overcharging. Here's why the agency says not to worry.
Some New York City subway riders allege the MTA's tap and go system, OMNY, is charging them for rides they didn't take. As the MTA pushes back on those claims, here are some ways riders can be sure to protect their fare. "It's one charge after another" Most New Yorkers don't track every trip. But some claim they do and say they're being taken for a ride. One TikTok video about OMNY's tap and go payment issues has been viewed 28,000 times, and Reddit is flooded with similar complaints. "I think I am being charged for rides I didn't take," said rider Nikki Krat, adding, "It's one charge after another, and I haven't taken the train in days." Another rider said she received back-to-back charges and returned to the MetroCard, instead of tapping. But with the classic cards being phased out, soon OMNY will be the only option. MTA says riders are not being overcharged Last month, concerns about the billing issues became so widespread, the MTA wrote online, "Rest assured you're not being overcharged." Due to a software update, it says there is just a delay between the tap and the charge. "The way the system is supposed to work is that people are charged immediately," explained Lucas Gutterman, a consumer advocate with Public Interest Research Group. In 2023, riders could check the location of their swipes online. But then, for security reasons, the MTA disabled the "trip history" feature. Two years later, the agency says it's still evaluating new tools to serve customers, and to call customer service for account questions. "I was on hold for about an hour and then, almost instantly after someone picked up, the call was dropped," said rider James Crowley. What to watch out for Until the issues are fixed, Gutterman says riders should track their trips and dispute if they feel they've been overcharged. "The number of trips you took should match the number of times you were charged," he said. "If those numbers don't match, then you have a problem." CBS News New York reached out to the MTA about the issues. The agency said no one is getting overcharged, but it understands the concerns of customers who have experienced processing delays. It's also working to increase hours and staffing at the call center.
