New York’s MTA to test ‘tap & go’ payments

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has teamed with MasterCard Worldwide to launch a six-month contactless payment trial in select New York City subway stations with pre-selected Citi credit card and Citibank customers. Participants of the program will be able to pay for their fare at the point of entry by tapping their contactless Citi credit card, Citibank debit card or payment tag on a specially equipped reader built into the subway turnstile. The program will offer pre-pay or pay-as-you-go options and allow trial participants to access a Website or call center to retrieve ride history and details of charges. “Our goal in this trial is to evaluate the potential of contactless payments to simplify fare payment for customers who travel throughout the MTA network, while also evaluating its operating efficiencies,” said Peter S. Kalikow, chairman for the MTA.