MetroCards are going to go the way of the subway token within a few years.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been toying with the idea of a so-called "smart card" for a number of years.

Now the New York Daily News says the agency plans to replace MetroCards with a new pass called the "MTA Card" in three or four years.

Commuters would tap the MTA Card, or a credit or debit card, on a sensor to pay for their rides.

They would also be able to pay as they go, with fares being deducted from a linked bank account, or they could buy trips in advance.

An MTA spokesman said in a statement. "It's time for MetroCard to be replaced, which provides an opportunity for a rare triple play: a new system that's easier for all customers to use, faster for boarding the transit system, and will save millions."