New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority is set to launch a new pilot program that will allow you to use your iPhone or Apple Watch to sort out any subway fare.
New York City’s subway system will be upgraded to let passengers settle subway bills with an easy tap instead of a swipe.
On the 31st of May, patrons taking the four five, trains, a popular subway line that stops at busy stations like Grand Central Terminal, Wall Street, and Barclays Center were allowed to get into the subway by holding their mobile phone or wearable device close to a reader instead of swiping a Metro Card.
It is the start of a pilot program for the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s fresh OMNY contactless fare system, which will allow digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay plus contactless credit cards from big companies like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
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For iOS owners, this tells you that you will be able to board the subway by holding your iOS device or Apple Watch close to the reader, which is like you, digitally scanning your boarding pass for a flight via Apple’s Wallet application. The “Apple Pay Express Transit,” as Apple has named it, functions like the standard version of Apple Pay.
Just select the card you’d prefer to use to settle your bills for subway, and your iPhone will ensure your card is charged when your device or Apple Watch is in your hands, close to any of the MTA’s contactless readers. Waking your mobile device is not necessary for this to work, simply hold it close to the reader and it will take over from there.
The launch is happening after Apple disclosed months back that it was about to make its Apple Pay service compatible with public transit systems in NY, Chicago, and Portland.
The service will be accessible at sixteen stops along the 4,5,6 line between Grand Central terminal in Manhattan and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It will be visible on every Staten Island bus too.
The fresh fare system only supports single fare tickets right now, but with time, it should support more options. When the public pilot finishes, the MTA hopes to release the fresh readers to the remaining 4,5,6 line and additional buses by next year.
This is a remarkable improvement of the New York’s public transit system, as it is joining other mega cities like London and Sydney that currently provide contactless payments for their transit systems.
Below is what Apple device owners have to do to get started.
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Before anything else, ensure your iPhone is running the most recent software
To get this done, launch “Settings.” in your iOS device, choose “General.” and then click “Software Update.” Your phone has to be running iOS 12.3 or higher for you to enjoy Apple Pay Express Transit.
Ensure your Apple Watch is up to date
Launch the Watch application on your iPhone, choose “General” and select “Software Update.” Your Apple Watch has to be running on watchOS 5.2.1.
After that, launch “Settings.” in your iPhone and select “Wallet & Apple Pay.”
If you have added a credit card to your iOS device in the past, it is the same menu option.
Select “Express Transit Card and choose the card you want to make use of.
“The Express Transit Card” is not the same as the normal Apple Wallet since it will not need your passcode or Face ID to function.
When that is done, authentication with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode can take place for the confirmation of the card to be used for Express Transit.
You are done.