GRASMERE — There are only three spots with MetroCard vending machines on Staten Island and the MTA is refusing to add more because it plans to phase the cards out — in three years' time.
A Staten Island politician is criticizing the authority for telling riders they have to buy their tickets at local delis.
Earlier this year, City Councilman Steven Matteo requested a new MetroCard machine at the recently renovated Grasmere stop of the Staten Island Railway.
His request was denied, with the MTA saying the cost was too high and it was planning to stop using the cards.
They suggested that Staten Island riders either sign up for a program to refill their cards online or walk a half-mile from the Grasmere station to three stores that sell swipes.
"I cannot imagine your agency would even consider telling MTA riders in other boroughs that they have to walk to a deli or drugstore a half-mile away from a subway station to purchase a MetroCard," Matteo wrote in a response to the agency on Wednesday.
"I find it unacceptable that New York City Transit [NYCT] continues to refuse my request for a single new vending machine on Staten Island, and frankly, I am offended that I have to continue to ask. This is not an unreasonable request, nor should it be too onerous for your agency to fufill."
Currently, Staten Island has only three locations with vending machines — at the St. George Ferry Terminal, the Tompkinsville SIR stop and the Eltingville Transit Center — that lets riders buy, refill or check the balance of MetroCards.
The MTA said Staten Island riders can either sign up for their EasyPay Xpress service — which requires a credit or debit card to automatically refill the cards — or buy them at the 130 stores in the borough where they're sold.
"Given the cost to purchase this equipment and the MTA's plans to move to a new fare payment system, NYCT does not intend to make additional vending machine purchases," NYCT president Veronique Hakim wrote to Matteo.
The MTA did not respond to questions on how much a vending machine would cost and why they only installed three on Staten Island in the past.
Matteo wrote that the schedule for the roll out has already been pushed back and Staten Island will likely get the shaft again when it goes online.
"Given the uncertainty of the MTA budget and the general history of MTA project delays, it is safe to assume the completion of the new fare system project will be pushed back even further," Matteo wrote.
"And history also tells us it is also likely Staten Island will be in the last phase of the project."
