JFK Airport Workers Face Financial Crunch as MetroCards Disappear from Vending Machines
Airport workers at John F. Kennedy International Airport are in a bind as MetroCard vending machines have been shut down, leaving thousands without access to discounted 30-day passes for the AirTrain. The MTA has already discontinued its MetroCard system, replacing it with the OMNY tap-to-pay system, but airport operations are still lagging behind.
As a result, many workers are forced to pay $17 per day to ride the AirTrain to their job sites, which is a significant burden for those who rely on the discounted rate. Newsstands at Jamaica and Howard Beach stations are selling out of 30-day MetroCards, with only a handful left in stock until March.
For many, this means having to explore alternative transportation options, such as buses or walking, just to get to work without breaking the bank. "It's ridiculous," said one JetBlue employee, who commutes daily from Manhattan to JFK and cannot afford the new price.
The Port Authority's lack of a plan to continue offering discounts has caused confusion, particularly given their previous struggles with implementing the OMNY system. The agency has repeatedly been forced to implement temporary solutions due to incompatibility issues.
Transit advocates have urged the new director, Kathryn Garcia, to address the situation and potentially introduce a 30-day unlimited pass option for all city transit systems. "We hope that this is just an opening door or more conversation," said Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA.
Airport workers at John F. Kennedy International Airport are in a bind as MetroCard vending machines have been shut down, leaving thousands without access to discounted 30-day passes for the AirTrain. The MTA has already discontinued its MetroCard system, replacing it with the OMNY tap-to-pay system, but airport operations are still lagging behind.
As a result, many workers are forced to pay $17 per day to ride the AirTrain to their job sites, which is a significant burden for those who rely on the discounted rate. Newsstands at Jamaica and Howard Beach stations are selling out of 30-day MetroCards, with only a handful left in stock until March.
For many, this means having to explore alternative transportation options, such as buses or walking, just to get to work without breaking the bank. "It's ridiculous," said one JetBlue employee, who commutes daily from Manhattan to JFK and cannot afford the new price.
The Port Authority's lack of a plan to continue offering discounts has caused confusion, particularly given their previous struggles with implementing the OMNY system. The agency has repeatedly been forced to implement temporary solutions due to incompatibility issues.
Transit advocates have urged the new director, Kathryn Garcia, to address the situation and potentially introduce a 30-day unlimited pass option for all city transit systems. "We hope that this is just an opening door or more conversation," said Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA.
! First, it's OMNY, and now MetroCards are disappearing from vending machines? Like, what's going on?! Can't they just make a plan for airport workers who already have to deal with crazy schedules and stress 
. And don't even get me started on the Port Authority's lack of communication - they're supposed to be helping people, not causing more headaches 
. We need some real solutions here, not just band-aids like temporary passes 
. And what's with all these changes happening at once? It's like they want us to lose our minds 
. Anyway, gotta go - my 30-day MetroCard is about to run out, and I'm not sure how I'm gonna afford the new price 
!
. $17 a day is just not fair, especially for those who are already on a tight budget 
. I'm surprised they didn't think that one through when they switched to the OMNY system... what was going on there? 
It's great that transit advocates like Lisa Daglian are speaking up and pushing for a 30-day unlimited pass option - maybe that can help bridge the gap until a more permanent solution is found 
.
can't believe Port Authority didn't think this one through 
need a plan ASAP or people will be stuck walking everywhere 
it would make such a big difference for ppl like those jetblue employees 
.
. I hope Kathryn Garcia listens to those transit advocates and gives us some clarity soon 
. We need a 30-day unlimited pass option, like, stat! 