New York City transit auctions off last MetroCard machines: ‘wild home decor idea’

MTA to sell remaining machines – which weigh up to 1,050lbs – as it transitions to contactless fare system

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City has begun auctioning off its final MetroCard vending machines, offering New Yorkers the chance to own one of the transit system’s most recognizable fixtures as the agency continues its transition to Omny.

The auction opened on Wednesday morning and will run through 19 August, according to the MTA. The agency is offering a limited number of retired MetroCard Vending Machines (MVM) and MetroCard Express Machines (MEM), which have served subway riders for decades.

“First installed in 1999, the colorful metal MVM and MEM are familiar to the millions of riders who take the subway each day,” the MTA said in a news release .

The MTA’s media liaison, Joana Flores, confirmed the agency was auctioning off the very last of the machines.

“Today, we began auctioning off the last MetroCard vending machines. There are a total of 60,” Flores said. The last remaining public-facing machine is located in Greenwich Village’s Mulry Square, she said, and now displays a QR code for commuters to scan should they be interested in making a bid.

The larger MetroCard vending machines, first installed in 1999, allowed riders to buy and reload MetroCards using cash, credit and debit cards. Each machine measures 80in long, 42in wide and 36in deep (203cm x 107cm x 91cm), and weighs 1,050lbs (476kg).

The smaller MetroCard express machines, introduced later to ease congestion at busy stations by accepting only credit and debit card payments, measure 21in long, 14in wide and 42in, and weigh about 210lb.

The MTA said the machines were being sold as-is in non-operational condition after their electronic and payment processing components were removed. Successful bidders will be required to pay in full on the day they are notified and arrange pickup within 10 days. Buyers are responsible for loading and transporting the heavy machines.

Flores said the MTA was also holding a public sweepstake in conjunction with the auction. Fifteen people will be selected in a random draw that allows the winners to skip the line at the agency’s annual transit memorabilia pop-up sale in October, along with a 20% discount on purchases.

She added that any remaining vending machines not sold through the auction will be sold online through GovDeals. But the agency does not anticipate any will be left by then, Flores said: “Usually, these things are hot-ticket items – they tend to go fast.”

The MetroCard, once synonymous with being a New York subway commuter, was also a popular vehicle for promotions, with the city issuing several commemorative editions, including one to mark baseball’s home-team World Series between the Mets and the Yankees in 2000.

Many famous musicians graced the card over the years, such as David Bowie, Olivia Rodrigo, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Notorious BIG and LL Cool J, as did New York-centric TV shows such as Seinfeld and Law & Order.

Some social media users have already expressed interest in placing bids, with commenters responding “Wild home decor idea” and “So tempted by this”.

The NPR gameshow host Peter Sagal wrote : “I haven’t been a New Yorker since 1998 but I really, really want one.”

The auction comes as the MTA continues replacing MetroCards with Omny , its contactless fare payment system.

“We’re no longer selling MetroCards, but we are accepting MetroCards,” Flores said. There is no date yet for when the transit system plans to fully convert to contactless payments and stop accepting the classic yellow cards, but Flores said there will come a day when the agency will “transition fully over to the tap and ride system”.