New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the accelerated rollout of MTA eTix, a free MTA app that will allow Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad customers to purchase train tickets anytime, anywhere with their mobile devices. The app, which was scheduled for completion by the end of 2016, will now be available to all riders of both railroads by the end of this summer.
“Governor Cuomo has asked us to make this app broadly available as quickly as possible, and we’ve responded with an aggressive roll out schedule that will make MTA eTix available to all LIRR and Metro-North riders before the end of August,” said MTA Chairman/CEO Thomas Prendergast. “With the launch of this new app riders can buy their tickets wherever and whenever they want, and that means more choice, and greater convenience.”
LIRR and Metro-North customers can check schedules, see service status and purchase tickets without waiting in line. The app also offers account management tools, giving railroad customers the ability to secure refunds for unused mobile tickets, request duplicate receipts, and manage profile info such as password and linked credit card numbers.
MTA eTix will first debut on the LIRR’s Port Washington Branch and Metro-North’s Hudson Line Tuesday. After introducing the app on these two rail lines, the MTA will make e-ticketing available to all LIRR and Metro North customers by the end of 2016. MTA eTix can be accessed as a stand-alone app or through the popular TrainTime apps and can be downloaded for free for iPhone and Android phone users. Customers who prefer paper tickets will be unaffected by the new app.
The MTA eTix app was developed by Masabi, Ltd., which has also created electronic mobile ticketing programs for MBTA Commuter Rail in Boston, NICE Bus on Long Island, and Metrolink in Los Angeles. Masabi was selected in April 2014 following a competitive request for proposals issued in March 2013.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
