Cuomo promises new payment methods, more digital advancements for MTA

Gov. Cuomo announced details on his ambitious MTA plans, including more Wi-Fi, different payment methods and an emphasis on real-time connectivity.

During a Friday news conference at the Brooklyn Transit Museum, Cuomo offered concrete details regarding his recently announced transportation-focused agenda to upgrade New York’s transit infrastructure, particularly New York City’s MTA.

The governor’s office stated that, by 2018, MTA subways and buses will use contactless payment methods utilizing mobile apps on personal devices and bank or debit cards, with mobile ticketing coming to the LIRR and Metro North within six months and digital ticketing coming to the whole system in coming years.

“The future is mass transportation. You want this region to grow? The answer is not more people getting in cars,” Cuomo said.

FreeWi-Fiin subway stations and buses, USB charging stations and more real-time countdown clocks are also in his transportation plans. Cellphone service at every underground station is planned for early next year.

Outside of New York City, Cuomo said that his transportation agenda extended statewide with a particular focus on upgrading bridges and roads upstate.

“It’s our obligation to build a NY for the next 100 years. The MTA is the heart of it, but we’re doing it all across the state,” Cuomo stated on Twitter.