Annual Subway Ridership Hits 1.7 Billion, Highest Since 1948
The MTA has released its 2015 figures, which show the highest weekday subway ridership since 1948, reports the Daily News. Not only does this account for daily riders, which hit 5.7 million, but annual ridership as well, reaching 1.763 billion. Another interesting tidbit, especially considering the looming shutdown, is that L train usage decreased for the first time in about 20 years. This occurred from Third Avenue to Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn, resulting in a 4.2 percent increase along the J/Z and M lines.
Further evidence of the system’s overcrowding is that 49 days throughout the year (compared to 29 in 2014) saw the number of daily passengers surpass six billion, like October 29th when a record-breaking 6,217,621 customers swiped their MetroCards. But as WNYC notes, these figures come with major service problems, as every single one of the numbered lines fared poorer over the past 12 months. The 6 line was the worst, only meeting service standards 58 percent of the time, followed by the 4 at 60 percent and the 5 at 61 percent. The MTA points to the Second Avenue Subway as the solution for the east side lines, and they also announced that come the fall, the 2 and 7 lines will see increased service.
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