MTA

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

Renderings courtesy of the Grand Penn Community Alliance, unless noted otherwise

March 11, 2025

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new proposal for the long-stalled redesign of Penn Station would move Madison Square Garden across the street and replace the existing station with a new train hall reminiscent of the its original grandeur. Spearheaded by architect and former chief urban designer for New York City Alexandros Washburn, the "Grand Penn" plan would create a public space the size of Bryant Park and a commuter train hall inspired by the original station, while relocating the famous arena across the street. The plan now joins two stalled proposals, including one from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and another from a private developer.
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Open gangway subway cars debut on the G line

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 5, 2025

Open gangway subway cars debut on the G line

By Aaron Ginsburg

G train riders will now have a more pleasant commute, at least 15 percent of the time. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority debuted two open-gangway cars on the crosstown subway line, marking just the second line in the system to use the new R211T cars. Last February, the C line became the first open gangway train to operate in the United States.
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Fair Fare riders can now tap-and-go on public transit with OMNY

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

February 27, 2025

Fair Fare riders can now tap-and-go on public transit with OMNY

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers enrolled in the city's half-priced transit fare program can now ditch their MetroCards and tap-and-go with ease. City officials on Wednesday announced that Fair Fares program participants can now order tap-and-go OMNY cards, offering half-off fare rates without the need to swipe. Enrollees will automatically be issued a discounted OMNY card, and those that are already in the program can request one through the city's website.
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Congestion pricing raised $48.6M in first month, MTA says

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 24, 2025

Congestion pricing raised $48.6M in first month, MTA says

By Aaron Ginsburg

Even as President Donald Trump fights to kill congestion pricing in New York City, the program raised $48.6 million in revenue during its first month, meeting revenue goals set by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. During an MTA meeting on Monday, the agency released the first financial results for the program for January 5 to January 31, showing the toll is on track to bring in a projected $500 million per year, or about $40 million per month.
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MTA launches pilot program to connect deaf riders with ASL interpreters

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 11, 2025

MTA launches pilot program to connect deaf riders with ASL interpreters

By Aaron Ginsburg

Navigating the New York City subway system got a little easier for riders with hearing difficulties. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced a pilot program that instantly connects commuters who are deaf or hard of hearing with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters while using the transit system. Through the Convo Access app, riders can connect with a live interpreter to communicate with MTA employees about service changes, payments, or any transit-related questions.
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Trump threatens to ‘kill’ NYC’s congestion pricing law

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 10, 2025

Trump threatens to ‘kill’ NYC’s congestion pricing law

By Aaron Ginsburg

President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on New York City's congestion pricing, claiming he can use the U.S. Department of Transportation to "kill" the program. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump suggested he could withhold federal transportation funds or reopen the environmental review process that authorized the toll program. He also claimed to be in discussions with Gov. Kathy Hochul about the program's future, but declined to disclose details of at least two prior phone conversations "out of respect."
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Fare evasion on NYC subway down 25% in last six months, MTA reports

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 30, 2025

Fare evasion on NYC subway down 25% in last six months, MTA reports

By Aaron Ginsburg

Fare evasion in the New York City subway system has dropped by 25 percent over the past six months, according to MTA officials. During an MTA board meeting on Wednesday, Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced that subway fare evasion has decreased from 14 to 10 percent in the last six months. Lieber also reported a 12 percent drop in bus fare evasion, from approximately 50 to 44 percent, marking the first significant progress the transit agency has made in reducing these rates.
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After one week of congestion pricing, MTA data shows less traffic and faster bus commutes

MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber with the final Congestion Relief Zone sign unveiled at Broadway & West 62nd Street on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, hours before the Central Business District Tolling Program goes into effect. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 14, 2025

After one week of congestion pricing, MTA data shows less traffic and faster bus commutes

By Aaron Ginsburg

In its first week, New York City's congestion pricing program has reduced both traffic and the number of vehicles entering Manhattan's busiest areas, according to early data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The agency on Monday released preliminary data for week one of congestion pricing that showed a 7.51 percent decrease in traffic and 219,000 fewer vehicles entering the tolling zone compared to the same period last year. Many drivers have reported faster trips, with bus routes crossing the East and Hudson Rivers saving up to four minutes.
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‘QueensLink’ receives $400K grant to study reactivation of abandoned railway

All images courtesy of QueensLink

January 10, 2025

‘QueensLink’ receives $400K grant to study reactivation of abandoned railway

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to reactivate a deserted railway as the first north-to-south subway line in Queens just got a financial boost from the federal government. The nonprofit group behind QueensLink, a proposal extending the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways along the abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch with accompanying bike paths and trails, received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The funds would pay for a study measuring the impacts of the project, which the group hopes could bring more support for QueensLink; it is currently competing against a separate project to build a linear park on the same railway.
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NY comptroller audit finds gaps in MTA’s extreme weather preparedness

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 6, 2025

NY comptroller audit finds gaps in MTA’s extreme weather preparedness

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new audit by the state comptroller highlights safety weaknesses in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's extreme weather preparedness. In an audit released Thursday, New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli alleges that inspections and maintenance of flood protection equipment, particularly in the MTA's Bridges & Tunnels and bus operations, are not always on schedule and that protocols for responding to extreme weather events like flooding and tornadoes are insufficient.
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Popular Articles

R train late-night service in Brooklyn suspended for two weekends starting Friday

Image via WikiCommons

January 3, 2025

R train late-night service in Brooklyn suspended for two weekends starting Friday

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklynites who take the R train will need to find a different way home late at night on two weekends starting Friday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday announced it will be partially suspending R line service between 36th Street and 95th Street stations from 11:30 p.m. on Friday, January 3, to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, January 6, and again from 11:30 p.m. on Friday, January 10, to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, January 13. Free shuttle buses will serve the affected stations during this period.
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Hochul deploys 250 more National Guard troops to patrol NYC subway during holiday season

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

December 19, 2024

Hochul deploys 250 more National Guard troops to patrol NYC subway during holiday season

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced that an additional 250 National Guard troops will patrol the New York City subway system during the holiday season, bringing the total count to 1,000 troops following their initial deployment in March. News of additional troops comes even as subway crime is down 10 percent since March, according to the governor. There is currently no planned end date to withdraw the extra troops.
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MTA to start retiring subway trains with retro orange-and-yellow seats in 2025

Photo by David Goehring on Flickr

December 16, 2024

MTA to start retiring subway trains with retro orange-and-yellow seats in 2025

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City subway system's classic orange-and-yellow seat cars are entering their twilight years, set to begin gradually disappearing from the tracks in 2025. Starting next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to slowly retire the R46, R62, and R68 subway cars—part of the MTA's "B Division" fleet—known for their colorful L-shaped, back-to-back seating, according to PIX11. The outdated cars will be replaced with the new R211 cars, as outlined in an NYC Transit order form.
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MTA rolls out first-ever festive ‘holiday train’ on Metro-North

Credit: MTA / Emily Moser on Flickr

December 2, 2024

MTA rolls out first-ever festive ‘holiday train’ on Metro-North

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is spreading holiday cheer across the tri-state region, offering commuters a festive way to ride the rails. The transit agency on Friday introduced the first-ever Holiday Lights Train on the Metro-North, operating on random rotation on the Hudson Line, Harlem Line, and New Haven Line at all times through the New Year. The festive trains are decked out with colorful exterior lights and play special holiday-themed safety messages at select stations.
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MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

November 15, 2024

MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockaway residents won't be left stranded this winter while the A and S subway lines undergo rehabilitation. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a substitute service plan to ensure reliable transit options for Rockaway residents while the MTA conducts vital resilience upgrades to the A and S lines. The plan includes two free shuttle buses, heavily discounted Long Island Rail Road fares, and a free Rockaway subway shuttle train serving all stations on the peninsula between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park.
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Hochul considers resuming congestion pricing after Trump win

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 11, 2024

Hochul considers resuming congestion pricing after Trump win

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul is reportedly exploring ways to revive congestion pricing before President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to eliminate the plan, takes office. As first reported by Politico, the governor's office has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation about potentially lowering the proposed toll from $15 to $9 and whether this change would require another lengthy environmental review process.
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Hochul shows no signs of resuming congestion pricing before Trump takes office

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 7, 2024

Hochul shows no signs of resuming congestion pricing before Trump takes office

By Aaron Ginsburg

Transit advocates are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to fund congestion pricing before the inauguration of Donald Trump, who has promised to terminate the program during his first week in office. During a press conference on Wednesday, Hochul said she could only provide updates on MTA funding later this year and did not address the fate of congestion pricing, while still acknowledging the limited time before Trump takes office.
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The A train won’t run in the Rockaways for 4 months starting in January

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

November 5, 2024

The A train won’t run in the Rockaways for 4 months starting in January

By Aaron Ginsburg

The A train will shut down in the Rockaways for four months starting in January to strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather. From January 17 to May 19 next year, the A train will not run at all between Howard Beach-JFK Airport to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street or Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue in both directions. During this period, the Rockaway Park Shuttle, which normally runs to Broad Channel, will instead operate between Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway, with no shuttle service running at all during the first week of the closure
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MTA moves forward with design of Interborough Express project

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 30, 2024

MTA moves forward with design of Interborough Express project

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Interborough Express, a proposed public transit connection between Brooklyn and Queens, is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the preliminary engineering and design phase of the 14-mile light rail line and began an environmental review with the federal government, according to Bloomberg. The initial phase is expected to take roughly two years to complete.
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Grimace joined Mets fans on the 7 train to Citi Field

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA

October 9, 2024

Grimace joined Mets fans on the 7 train to Citi Field

By Devin Gannon

From Pete Alonso's pumpkin to "OMG" signs, the New York Mets have had several quirky good luck charms that helped them go from below .500 at one point in the season to one win away from this year's National League Championship Series. Perhaps none greater than Grimace, the McDonald's mascot. To get to Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the purple cartoon character boarded a Citi Field-bound 7 train at Hudson Yards decked out in Grimace decals.
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Events & Things To Do

Staten Island Railway gets new train cars for the first time in over 50 years

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 9, 2024

Staten Island Railway gets new train cars for the first time in over 50 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

New subway cars have hit the tracks of the Staten Island Railway for the first time in over 50 years. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Tuesday launched new cutting-edge R211S subway cars into service that feature wider doors, security cameras, digital route screens in all cars, and enhanced accessibility features. To celebrate the new cars, MTA officials and commuters took an inaugural ride from St. George Terminal.
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Transit

Penn Station needs expansion to boost train capacity, new report concludes

Photo courtesy of Fernando Sandoval/MW

October 3, 2024

Penn Station needs expansion to boost train capacity, new report concludes

By Aaron Ginsburg

The only way to increase train capacity at Penn Station is to expand the Midtown Manhattan transit hub, a new report concludes. This week Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and NJ Transit released "Doubling Trans-Hudson Train Capacity at New York Penn Station," an engineering feasibility study exploring four concepts to double train capacity without expanding the station's size. Ultimately, none of these proposals were found feasible, marking a shift in focus towards options that would increase Penn Station's footprint.
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MTA unveils $68B capital plan to keep NYC transit system afloat

Credit: Ray Raimundi/MTA on Flickr

September 19, 2024

MTA unveils $68B capital plan to keep NYC transit system afloat

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Wednesday released a $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025-2029 mapping out ways to improve the transit system. The plan, "The Future Rides with Us," focuses on maintaining New York City's aging subway system by funding new train cars, improving deteriorating stations, and modernizing the signal system to ensure frequent and reliable service for New Yorkers. Nearly half of the funding remains uncertain, largely due to a $15 billion gap in the current capital plan caused by Gov. Kathy Hochul's indefinite pause on congestion pricing.
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MTA expands bus lane cameras to 20 more routes

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

September 16, 2024

MTA expands bus lane cameras to 20 more routes

By Aaron Ginsburg

Double-parkers beware. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday began its Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) in all five boroughs, issuing warnings for vehicles blocking bus stops or illegally double parking in bus lanes during an initial 60-day period. After the warning period, drivers who break the rules will face fines starting at $50, with repeat offenses increasing up to $250.
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MTA could need $100B+ to fund transit projects over next five years

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

September 12, 2024

MTA could need $100B+ to fund transit projects over next five years

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) needs over $100 billion for transit projects and maintenance over the next five years, significantly more than the funds currently available, according to a new report. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Thursday released a report estimating the MTA's 2025-2029 capital plan could cost up to $92.2 billion. This figure doesn't account for the $15 billion gap in the current plan due to Gov. Kathy Hochul's pause on congestion pricing, which would bring the total funds needed up to $107 billion.
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