New York City introduces ‘green fee’ for MetroCards
06 August, 2012
category: Contactless, Transit
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City is planning to add a $1 charge to almost all new MetroCards, according to Queen Chronicle.
Beginning in 2013, the authority will start imposing the “green fee” that is aimed to encourage riders to continue reloading money on their existing cards rather than discarding empty ones and buying them new. Riders are able to continue putting money on existing cards at any number of vending machines at subway, train and bus stations.
“The point is to reduce the number of instances of people putting new MetroCards into service, and to reduce the number of cards that are thrown away,” MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said in an interview on Tuesday. “That will reduce the amount of money we spend producing the cards; reduce the amount of litter in stations and reduce the amount of plastic going into the waste stream.”
Right now, a single-ride card can be purchased for $2.50. Cards purchased for $10 or more receive a 7 percent discount. A card purchased for $20 has a value of $21.40. That same card will cost $21 in 2013. Cards through employers and in combination programs that result in MetroCards being mailed to commuters will not be subject to the fee.
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