Erin Lanahan 
The classic yellow MetroCards will soon be a thing of the past for PATH commuters. In an effort to make commuting more accessible, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) launched a new payment card and vending machine system. Riders will be able to instantly reload the TAPP card and still tap and go when commuting on the PATH. MetroCards and SmartLink cards will be phased out later in 2026. Read on to learn about the TAPP cards, how to buy them, and what to expect if you still have a MetroCard.
Shifting From Metro to TAPP
MetroCard sales and refills are set to end after December 31st, 2025. The Port Authority announced it will be replaced with the Total Access PATH Payment, known as the TAPP card, a reloadable physical fare option for PATH riders.
Read More: New Jersey to Increase Gas Tax 1/1/26
The TAPP cards are available to purchase online and from machines at all stations. The Port Authority also launched new vending machines, designed to be more user-friendly, at Journal Square and 33rd Street stations. There are plans to expand those new machines to other stations as more testing is completed.
Commuters can still tap their credit or debit cards on the fare gate to pay to get on the PATH. The TAPP card works the same way and helps make it easier for commuters to pay with cash. The Port Authority reports nearly 70% of the system’s 200,000 weekday riders now use contactless payments, and weekend riders are closer to 80%.
SmartLink Card dispensing machines have now been retrofitted to dispense TAPP cards at all PATH stations as the new machines come online. PATH passenger information agents have also undergone training to help riders as the new system is launched.
How Does It Work?
The TAPP card works a little differently from the SmartLink card. A new TAPP card costs $5 and can be reloaded with any monetary value, rather than a fixed trip increment. Riders can also purchase 10, 20, and 40-trip packages at vending machines, online, or by phone. If you register the card online, riders will receive a $5 travel credit on PATH. Online registration unlocks features such as auto-reloads and balance protection in the event of a lost or stolen card.
Over the next few months, PATH will migrate 1-day, 7-day and 30-day unlimited passes, as well as senior and disabled fare Smartlink card customers, to the TAPP platform. MetroCards bought before January 1st, 2026, will also eventually be phased out at a later date. Existing MetroCard balances will continue to be accepted until that date is set.
See More: With a Netflix Studio on the Way, What Does a Potential Warner Bros. Merger Mean for NJ?
Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Hoboken and Jersey City updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
