Listen to this articleThe basics:
- PATH rolls out new, reloadable TAPP card as MetroCard set to phase out
- TAPP usage now accounts for 70% of weekday rides and nearly 80% on weekends
- New vending machines will offer touchscreen, multilingual menus and easy reloads
- TAPP enables instant online balance updates and future migration of unlimited and reduced-fare products
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has launched a new reloadable TAPP card for PATH riders.
The creation of the TAPP card comes as the MetroCard is phased out after Dec. 31. It offers a physical payment option for customers who prefer or need to pay with cash. NJBIZ has previously reported on TAPP, which was first introduced as a pilot in 2023. The initiative allows riders to pay with credit or debit cards by tapping the fare gate readers.
TAPP use has grown dramatically as its been integrated into the system. Nearly 70% of weekday riders now use the contactless payments; and nearly 80% on weekends.
TAPP cards are now available for purchase at all PATH stations, online and by phone. The rollout includes newly designed vending machines — debuting initially at Journal Square and 33rd Street — featuring large touchscreens, intuitive menus, multilingual options, and simplified purchasing and reloading.
How does it work?
Unlike SmartLink machines, the new units allow riders to buy and reload a card in one place. In the interim, existing SmartLink machines have been retrofitted to dispense TAPP cards until new machines are fully deployed. PATH station agents have been trained to assist riders during the transition.
TAPP uses a cloud-based system, enabling instant online balance updates rather than the lengthy synchronization required under SmartLink. Riders can load any monetary amount onto the card and purchase discounted 10-, 20- and 40-trip packages. Unlimited passes and reduced-fare products for seniors and riders with disabilities will migrate to the TAPP platform in the coming months. MetroCards purchased before Jan. 1, 2026, will be accepted until a separate phase-out date is announced.
TAPP cards cost $5 to purchase, but riders who register online receive a $5 travel credit, along with benefits such as auto-reloads and balance protection for lost or stolen cards.
‘New era’
Port Authority leaders highlighted this latest evolution in the PATH’s fare payment history.
“For more than a century, PATH has evolved alongside the region it serves, from paper tickets and tokens to magnetic cards and now tap-and-go technology,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The introduction of TAPP cards continues that legacy of progress, bringing the 117-year-old system into a new era of convenience, flexibility, and innovation.”
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton, who recently announced his pending retirement, stressed that the agency’s focus is on making the rider experience as simple and reliable as possible.
“As MetroCard is phased out, we want PATH riders to know they will still have a simple, reliable way to pay with a physical card, including options for riders who prefer cash,” said Cotton.
