New York City high school students are calling on the MTA to upgrade the student OMNY cards, which they say are too fragile, too unreliable, and too difficult to replace. On Wednesday, they gathered on the steps of City Hall to demand that changes be made and released a report.

Student Concerns

A survey of nearly 700 students found 88% of students said their cards had been damaged, while more than 85% reported problems getting the cards to work when tapping. The group is calling for more durable plastic cards and a digital version that could be stored on a phone.

Students say a broken card can do more than delay a trip. It can mean missing school, internships, sports, or after-school activities. As a student, being able to flow seamlessly from borough to borough has been essential for my development as a student, and in my school, my career, life, and to my social connections with family and friends.

MTA Response

MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara issued a statement after the rally: We appreciate the feedback from student customers. The MTA plans to provide plastic sleeves to students to protect current cards, with a durable plastic version of the Student OMNY card coming in time for the 2027-2028 school year. In addition, we are piloting a program this year that will allow students to tap with their phones just like other riders are already doing today.

Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.