The new, higher MetroCard fares and the new $1 MetroCard replacement fee that comes with them kick in on March 1st—check out your new MetroCard Calculus here. Before that happens though, the MTA has a very welcome gift for New Yorkers. You can now put both unlimited and pay-per-ride amounts on the same MetroCard. And it isn't as complicated as it sounds!

Basically, if you have an unlimited MetroCard you can now additionally drop a few more dollars on it, and they will kick in when your unlimited period ends. This way you won't need to carry two MetroCards for those days when your unlimited has run out and you don't have time to go grab a pay-per-ride or refill your unlimited card.

Similarly, you can now turn your pay-per-ride card into an unlimited by simply refilling it as such at a MetroCard vending machine. The unlimited period will kick in the next time you swipe—and your pay-per-ride balance will remain on your card for you to use after the unlimited period ends.

Even better? You won't have to pay the new $1 MetroCard fee to refill this way. What if your MetroCard is about to expire? According to the MTA, "the MetroCard Vending Machine will offer the customer a new MetroCard with the same time and value on it at no charge."

"This card is the most flexible MetroCard ever offered and the best way to avoid paying the $1 New Card Fee by refilling and reusing your current card," MTA Interim Executive Director Thomas F. Prendergast crowed in a press release. "We produce almost 160 million MetroCards each year at an annual cost of nearly $10 million. Many of the cards often end up as litter in the system, so by refilling your MetroCard, you’ll reduce expenses and help the environment."