Apple Pay Comes to New York City's MTA Transit This Friday

Wednesday May 29, 2019 3:54 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple Pay is coming to New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority on May 31, reports TechCrunch. The rollout means people will be able to use ‌Apple Pay‌ with the new tap-to-pay fare system on the buses in Staten Island and the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines between Grand Central Station in Manhattan and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

DSCF5596

Image via TechCrunch

To use ‌Apple Pay‌ on the MTA transit, you'll need an iPhone 6s or SE or later, and have the latest version of iOS (12.3) and watchOS (5.2.1) installed. After you've registered a credit or debit card, you can then take advantage of the new Express Transit NFC feature, which allows you to tap your iPhone or Apple Watch against the fare reader to pay and go.

The system is currently limited to single-ride passes, so users of daily, weekly, or monthly passes aren't able to use ‌Apple Pay‌ yet. However, additional fare options are due to introduced by late 2020, when the MTA expects to have rolled out ‌Apple Pay‌ on all subway lines and buses, according to TechCrunch.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

Walmart to Begin Accepting Apple Pay in U.S. Stores

Friday August 21, 2026 7:09 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

After years of holding out, Walmart today announced that it will finally begin accepting tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay in some of its Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. starting Monday, August 24. The retailer plans to roll out tap-to-pay support to all of its U.S. stores by the end of 2026 and to its gas stations by mid-2027. "We want customers and members to have choice in how...

• 326 comments

Apple Pay Supporting U.S. National Park Foundation Over the Next Week

Friday August 21, 2026 8:52 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Now through August 28, Apple will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store, up to a maximum of $1 million. In addition, the annual U.S. national parks Apple Watch Activity Challenge returns on Sunday, August 23 this...

• 17 comments

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...

• 151 comments

Top Rated Comments

AndyDiamond

95 months ago

Congratulations, NewYork City!

Welcome to London in 2003!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_card

they had Apple Pay in London in 2003?

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

sinsin07

95 months ago

Do people find waving their phones around in a public place like this safe?

Ridiculous.
This is waving:

People use their phones in public all the time, sometimes while crossing the street.

I've wondered how many people will accidentally lose their grip on it and send it flying...

Most likely the same amount that lose it flying simply to check an app or make a phone call.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

AndyDiamond

95 months ago

Do people find waving their phones around in a public place like this safe?

I've wondered how many people will accidentally lose their grip on it and send it flying...

literally everyone walks through the turnstiles with their phone in their hand.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

demodave

95 months ago

Apple Pay is coming to New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority on May 31, reports TechCrunch ('https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/29/nyc-subway-riders-will-be-able-to-swipe-in-with-apple-pay-starting-friday/?guccounter=1'). The rollout means people will be able to use Apple Pay with the new tap-to-pay fare system on the buses in Staten Island and the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines between Grand Central Station in Manhattan and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

[snip]

The system is currently limited to single-ride passes, so users of daily, weekly, or monthly passes aren't able to use Apple Pay yet. However, additional fare options are due to introduced by late 2020, when the MTA expects to have rolled out Apple Pay on all subway lines and buses, according to TechCrunch.

Article Link: Apple Pay Comes to New York City's MTA Transit This Friday ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/29/apple-pay-new-york-city-transit-this-friday/')

Congratulations, NewYork City!

Welcome to London in 2003!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_card

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)