Recently, the MTA officially ditched the traditional MetroCard Student system in place for the newer OMNY Cards. OMNY Cards offer more benefits, such as convenience with Tap & Go for subway and city buses, more rides, and 24/7/365 service. It is good for four rides per day, and includes a free transfer between the subway and the local bus services, offering more service and accessibility to students who have a longer commute to school daily.

This change was implemented this fall and OMNY cards are being offered to all NYC public schools. Students were surprised by the switch, but very swiftly adapted to the improvement. How has this new system impacts students at The College Academy?

Justin Mendez, a senior in high school, argued that the OMNYCard has been a significant improvement to the NYC public transit system, claiming that the card is more efficient and convenient for high school students. Mendez later explains that the Tap & Go feature of the card clears up the typical morning traffic often found in train stations, and eliminates the issue of having multiple cards to shuffle through in your wallet.

College sophomore (and TCA alumni) Miracle Eugui agreed with this point, stating that the OMNYCard allows her to get onto the train significantly faster than the traditional MetroCard. Eugui also shared that the card given to her has an unlimited number of rides, and that she doesn’t have to pay for the card, which allows her to allocate her money into expensive college fees. In a survey 79.3% of TCA students agreed that the OMNYCard is a more convenient means to commute to school.  75.2% of students also stated that they simply like the OMNYCard system more than the old MetroCard system.

Students of The College Academy expressed that they felt that having the ability to have more rides has enabled them to go and explore the city more due to not having the worry of there not being enough rides to get back home. In a survey administered to 246 TCA students found that 61.4% of them felt they rode on the MTA more often with the new cards. Additionally, the OMNYCard offering 24 hour service, including weekends, has offered more opportunities for students to get out of their houses whenever they want, not having to worry about getting to the train before 8 PM, like with the MetroCards.

The New York City Education Department has distributed this new card to your counselors this fall 2024 so you should’ve received it in the beginning of the school year. To know if you’re eligible for it, visit transportation eligibility.