MTA OMNY Fare Vending Machine

Name: Reflexions
Price range: $

A new vending machine for NYC

Reflexions created the user experience and user interface designs for the new OMNY machines in collaboration with Cubic Transportation Systems and the MTA.

As part of the ongoing rollout of the next-generation OMNY payment system to replace MetroCard, the MTA has begun installing OMNY vending machines in New York City subway stations.

Client

MTA

Industry

Transportation

Partner

Cubic Transportation Systems

What We Did

Design

Payment Reader Screen Design

Accessibility Compliance

User Research and Testing

Transit riders expect transit technology to be simple and intuitive, and we worked intentionally to meet those expectations with our designs for the OMNY vending machines.

We take a user-centered design approach to our work for transit systems to ensure all customers can understand how to use the services.

We designed the OMNY vending machine experience to be clear and comprehensible, and made design choices to maximize accessibility — like easy-to-read text that takes advantage of the large screen, an intuitive navigation, a simple three-step purchase process, touchscreen buttons within reach of riders in wheelchairs, an audio guide, and over a dozen language options.

Our commitment to rider-centric innovation is driven by a desire to improve the public transit experience for everyone.

New York City subway stations are a crowded and distracting environment, so designing a straightforward and accessible interface for OMNY vending machines helps everyone. We took this opportunity to help simplify the experience of OMNY for the 4 million New Yorkers and visitors who take transit every day.

OMNY reached its first billion uses in summer 2023. Since 2019, riders have been able to pay with OMNY by tapping a credit card, phone, or smartwatch, but now that the OMNY card is here, even riders who pay with cash can use the new machines to load their cards and enjoy OMNY benefits like automatic fare capping and automatic free transfers.

The new vending machines will eventually be installed in all 472 subway stations. With continued design innovation and a focus on meeting the needs of riders, Reflexions will continue to lead the way, ushering in the next generation of public transit user experience.