Other cities already have transit systems that allow riders through fare gates with the tap of a card, or even a phone. Now the most expansive subway system in the United States is joining the club.
Emma G. Fitzsimmons reports from New York City:
Cities like London and Chicago have embraced tap cards and smartphone payments while New Yorkers still stand at turnstiles trying to swipe their MetroCard at the precise slow, but not-too-slow, speed to avoid the dreaded “Please swipe again.’’
Now New York is finally getting a modern “tap-and-go” fare system that will make other cities jealous.
The system, called One Metro One New York (OMNY for short), launched in May at a handful of select stations, but a full roll out is expected to be complete by the end of next year. The system will also be built into the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, the two commuter railroads operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, by 2021.
According to Fitzsimmons, the system is drawing positive reviews from riders, representing a rare bright spot for the beleaguered system.
Read the full story: So Long, Swiping. The ‘Tap-and-Go’ Subway Is Here.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
