New York City subway ridership is up, though not yet at pre-pandemic levels, Gov. Hochul said Monday,
So far this year, the number of people riding the subway is up 8% since last year and has risen 31% compared to 2022.
Ridership has yet to rise to its pre-pandemic numbers — the seven-day rolling average in March 2020 was above 4.5 million.
But mid-week numbers have gotten close in recent months, with several 4.4 million-ride days in June, according to MTA data.
MTA ridership data from last week — the most recently available data — show two days of subway ridership with more than 4 million rides per day: last Wednesday, when straphangers took 4.1 million trips, and Thursday when just over 4 million took to the rails.
Hochul’s office said Monday these were the first July days above 4 million riders since the COVID lockdown.
Along with buses and commuter rail, Hochul said the increase meant almost 6 million trips were conducted on MTA lines daily.
“Thanks to the investments we’re making in safer, more reliable and more frequent service, riders are benefiting every day,” she said in a statement. “When transit is thriving, New York is thriving.”
Ridership on LIRR is up 9% over 2024, and up 64% compared to 2022, according to MTA data. Metro-North ridership has followed similar trends: 6% from 2024 and 63% compared to 2022.
The MTA ended 24-hour subway service at the height of the COVID lockdown in order to better facilitate cleaning. Round-the-clock subway service resumed in May 2021.
The MTA has struggled to regain it pre-COVID ridership as many New Yorkers continue to work remotely, but an uptick in ridership could bode well for the agency’s financial future. Farebox revenue funds a significant portion of the MTA’s operating budget — roughly a quarter.
