MTA Goes Online to Improve MetroCard Replacement System

Normal 0 Replacing a defective MetroCard should be a lot easier next year, when straphangers can go to the web rather than a token booth, transit officials said Wednesday.

The new system--expected to be available in the second quarter of next year--would shorten the amount of time to replace and get refunds for damaged and expired subway cards, the NY Daily News reported.

“We’re going to make it as efficient and customer-friendly as possible,” NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton said.

Right now replacing a defective MetroCard requires going to a token booth, picking up a form and a postage-paid envelope—if there are any left. Seaton said that empty bins were due to an internal miscommunication.

The Daily News reported that about 170,000 claims are processed each year and the current average wait is seven to 11 days.

Transit officials said they've been working on the system upgrade since last year.

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