Nyc Subway

24/7 subway service resumes in New York City

NYC Transit employees remove overnight closure signs. Courtesy of MTA on Flickr

May 17, 2021

24/7 subway service resumes in New York City

New York City's subway system resumed 24-hour service on Monday for the first time in over a year. Last May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo closed the subway overnight as part of a disinfection plan created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time the trains closed overnight since the subway first opened 116 years ago. The return of 24/7 service this week comes just two days before most capacity restrictions in New York are lifted and as rates of COVID have fallen across the state.
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Vaccines coming to Grand Central, Penn Station, and more subway and train stations

Photo by Stephen H on Unsplash

May 10, 2021

Vaccines coming to Grand Central, Penn Station, and more subway and train stations

By Dana Schulz

With vaccination rates declining, the state is continuing to come up with incentives for New Yorkers to get the shot, from free Yankees and Mets tickets to free admission to museums. The latest is a partnership with the MTA to bring vaccines to busy subway, LIRR, and Metro-North stations, including Grand Central and Penn Station. Those who receive the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at these locations will receive a free seven-day MetroCard or two free one-way trips on the LIRR or Metro-North.
See all the locations

Policy

Most capacity restrictions to be lifted in New York on May 19

Via Public Domain

May 3, 2021

Most capacity restrictions to be lifted in New York on May 19

By Devin Gannon

Most state-mandated capacity restrictions in New York will be lifted on May 19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday. According to the governor, this means restaurants, stores, gyms, salons, amusement parks, and offices can reopen at 100 percent capacity for the first time in 14 months. The six-foot social distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will remain in effect at these places, which could still limit capacity depending on the space available. In anticipation of the reopening, on May 17, 24/7 subway service will resume.
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NYC’s live subway map now includes COVID-19 vaccination sites

Courtesy of the MTA

March 9, 2021

NYC’s live subway map now includes COVID-19 vaccination sites

By Devin Gannon

Coronavirus vaccination sites located across New York City have been added to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's digital subway map, helping straphangers find the easiest route to their appointments. The map, which launched last October and provides real-time service updates, now features a syringe icon that marks the location of vaccine hubs in every borough.
Details here

Transit

MTA predicts ‘new normal’ ridership by 2024 that may be 80% of pre-pandemic levels

Photo by Joey via Flickr cc

February 19, 2021

MTA predicts ‘new normal’ ridership by 2024 that may be 80% of pre-pandemic levels

By Dana Schulz

With New York City having fully vaccinated more than 450,000 people and a vaccine surge expected by April, it's all too easy to start envisioning the good-old-days. But many aspects of city living may never quite be what they were. To account for that, the MTA has predicted a "new normal" ridership that will stabilize "in 2023 and 2024 between 80% and 92% of pre-pandemic levels," according to a press release. And though the agency has staved off subway and bus service cuts through 2022, they warn that they may still eventually make cuts to adapt to reduced ridership.
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Transit

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

February 16, 2021

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

By Devin Gannon

Overnight subway service in New York City will partially resume this month following more than nine months of closure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Monday plans for a phased reopening of the subway starting February 22, which includes closing the system for cleaning from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. instead of from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Cuomo last May ordered the closure of 24/7 service, a first for the system, as part of a rigorous coronavirus disinfection plan and an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz among celebs making new COVID PSAs on the subway

Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

February 12, 2021

Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz among celebs making new COVID PSAs on the subway

By Dana Schulz

Jerry Seinfeld, Edie Falco, Cam’ron, Debbie Mazar, Whoopie Goldberg, Fran Lebowitz--these are just a few of the 25 New York celebrities whose voices were recorded by the MTA for a new set of subway PSAs. The announcements, which begin today, are meant to bring humor and some good old-fashioned NYC swagger to the subway as the city begins its recovery. The project was done in collaboration with Nicolas Heller, a talent scout who has gained notoriety for his popular Instagram account New York Nico. "This was such a dream project and I wanna give a huge thanks to my team who helped make this whole thing happen in less than 6 weeks with $0," he wrote in a post today.
Hear some of the announcements

How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine powered snow blowers

A jet snow thrower in action via MTA’s Flickr

December 16, 2020

How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine powered snow blowers

By Devin Gannon

With a forecast of up to 18 inches of snow, Winter Storm Gail is expected to bring more snow to New York City this week than the five boroughs saw all of last year. In response to the nor'easter, expected to hit Wednesday afternoon, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has activated its 24/7 command center to monitor the storm. The agency is prepared to clear subways, buses, and commuter railways of snow thanks to its fleet of super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow blowers, and specially designed de-icing cars to tackle the icy mess.
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MTA launches first real-time digital subway map

Courtesy of the MTA

October 20, 2020

MTA launches first real-time digital subway map

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday released a new digital map of the New York City subway system that provides service updates to riders in real-time. As first reported by Curbed, this map uses data from the MTA to update as service changes are happening, allowing users to click on stations and individual train lines to see the actual wait time for the next train. When zoomed in on the map, little gray blocks move along the colored lines, depicting the train's actual movement from station to station. Created by design and technology firm Work & Co., the map modernizes both Massimo Vignelli's iconic 1972 map and the current map designed by Michael Hertz, combining the geometric and graphic design-friendly Vignelli map with the geographical elements of Hertz. The new live map is the first major redesign of the NYC subway map in 40 years.
More here

Did you know the MTA had an armored money train that ran from 1951 to 2006?

Interior of the money train via Wikipedia

October 8, 2020

Did you know the MTA had an armored money train that ran from 1951 to 2006?

By Devin Gannon

In order to collect fares from various stations, the MTA created a special armored train that moved all the subway and bus fares collected to a secret room at 370 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. As Untapped Cities learned, the money trains, which ran from 1951 to 2006, had 12 collecting agents and one supervisor, all of whom were armed and wearing body armor. After the Metrocard arrived, the revenue collection system changed, and the final armored train rode in January 2006 on the same day the Money Room closed.
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Refusing to wear a mask on MTA trains and buses will cost riders $50

By Devin Gannon

Riders on public transit in New York who refuse to wear a face mask will now be fined $50, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Thursday. Starting Monday, riders of the city's subway and buses, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North will be subject to the new penalty for not complying with the mandatory face-covering rule, put in place by executive order in April.
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Without federal aid, MTA says subway and bus service could be cut by 40 percent

Photo credit: Billie Grace Ward via Flickr

August 26, 2020

Without federal aid, MTA says subway and bus service could be cut by 40 percent

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday laid out a grim plan detailing service cuts and fare hikes that could be implemented without additional federal aid. Without at least $12 billion in funding from Washington, subway and bus service could be cut by up to 40 percent, a devastating blow to millions of New Yorkers and the city's economy. During a board meeting on Wednesday, Chair Pat Foye said the coronavirus crisis has had a far larger toll on ridership and revenue than the Great Depression a century prior.
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Inside the stunning, abandoned City Hall subway station

Photo © James and Karla Murray

August 25, 2020

Inside the stunning, abandoned City Hall subway station

By Dana Schulz

When the New York City subway opened on October 27th, 1904, it was the magnificent City Hall station that served as the backdrop for the festivities, with its arched Guastavino-tiled ceiling and skylights. But by 1945, the newer, longer subway cars could no longer fit on the station's curved tracks, so it was closed. Today, the New York City Transit Museum occasionally offers tours of the abandoned station, which is how photographers James and Karla Murray were able to capture these beautiful photos. Ahead, see more of the station and learn all about its history.
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MTA wants Apple to make it easier for users to unlock iPhones with masks on

Sally Librera, Senior Vice President of Subways, distributing free face masks to transit customers on July 23; Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

August 10, 2020

MTA wants Apple to make it easier for users to unlock iPhones with masks on

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Sunday asked Apple to develop a more simplistic face-recognition system to prevent riders from removing face coverings to unlock their smartphones while commuting. An update to the company's Face ID feature is currently in the works, but in a letter to CEO Tim Cook, MTA Chair Pat Foye requested the technology be expedited. "We urge Apple to accelerate the deployment of new technologies and solutions that further protect customers in the era of COVID-19," Foye wrote, according to the Associated Press.
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Return of 24/7 subway service in NYC would be required under new legislation

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

July 23, 2020

Return of 24/7 subway service in NYC would be required under new legislation

By Devin Gannon

In May, for the first time in its history, the New York City subway system shut down overnight as part of a nightly disinfection plan to kill traces of the coronavirus on trains and buses. To ensure the subway resumes 24/7 service, seen as an integral part of the city that never sleeps' DNA, the State Senate on Thursday passed legislation that would require nonstop subway service when a state of emergency is not in effect.
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The F train will shut down on nights and weekends for the next 8 months

Photo by Patrick Cashin courtesy of MTA via Flickr

July 21, 2020

The F train will shut down on nights and weekends for the next 8 months

By Dana Schulz

After one year of service disruptions, the much-talked-about L train "slowdown" wrapped up in April. The MTA has now turned its attention to the F train's Rutgers Tube, which is the last of 11 subway tunnels to be rebuilt after suffering damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Using the same tactics as were employed for the L train, the Rutgers Tube will only be shut down on nights and weekends, affecting F train service from August 2020 through March 2021.
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Transit

Check out the PPE vending machines that just arrived in NYC subway stations

All photos: Marc Herman / MTA NYC Transit on Flickr

July 1, 2020

Check out the PPE vending machines that just arrived in NYC subway stations

By Dana Schulz

As of yesterday, the MTA rolled out 12 PPE vending machines in 10 busy subway stations. The machines, which offer reusable face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes, were installed as part of the MTA's larger effort to keep subways sanitized and safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Check 'em out

Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

Photo of Franklin Avenue Station © 6sqft

June 25, 2020

Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

By Devin Gannon

Two subway stations in Brooklyn will be renamed after Medgar Evers College and the Civil Rights activist for whom the historic black college is named. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced that Franklin Avenue and President Street stations in Crown Heights will formally be renamed this fall, with MTA maps and signage updated this summer. The new stations--Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College and President Street-Medgar Evers College--aim to honor the contributions of the institution ahead of its 50th anniversary.
More here

800,000 commuters rode the subway on NYC’s first day of reopening

Day one at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave Station; Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

June 10, 2020

800,000 commuters rode the subway on NYC’s first day of reopening

By Devin Gannon

On Monday, the first day of New York City's phase one reopening, more than 800,000 straphangers rode the subway. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, June 8 became the highest ridership day since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The agency said ridership was up during afternoon peak hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with Manhattan seeing a 20 percent increase in ridership from the week prior. However, this is still just 15 percent of regular ridership compared to last year.
Details here

Transit

As NYC prepares to reopen, questions about public transit remain

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

May 29, 2020

As NYC prepares to reopen, questions about public transit remain

By Devin Gannon

New York City will likely begin the reopening process early next month, with as many as 400,000 employees expected to return to work during this first phase, Mayor Bill de Blasio said this week. While the mayor on Thursday released guidelines for phase one businesses to safely reopen without a resurgence of the coronavirus, no plan has been issued from City Hall on how employees returning to the workforce will commute there safely.
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MTA launches UV light pilot program to kill COVID-19 on NYC subways and buses

Demonstration of UV disinfection technology at Corona Maintenace Facility; Photo Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 20, 2020

MTA launches UV light pilot program to kill COVID-19 on NYC subways and buses

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will use ultraviolet light to remove the coronavirus from its subway and bus system, officials announced on Tuesday. For phase one of the $1 million pilot program, the agency will deploy 230 UV light lamps next week on some trains, buses, and MTA facilities. The devices will be used in cars during overnight station closures and at maintenance yards in Corona, Coney Island, Jamaica, and Pelham. If the first phase of the pilot proves successful, the program will expand to Long Island Railroad and Metro-North trains.
See it here

MTA adds social distancing markers, considers reservation system for subway and bus

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

May 18, 2020

MTA adds social distancing markers, considers reservation system for subway and bus

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week launched a pilot program to keep commuters socially distanced on subway platforms. The transit authority installed markers on the floors of a few stations on the Upper East Side that encourage straphangers to remain six feet from others to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to new signage, mask requirements, and a vigorous disinfection plan that involves an overnight shutdown of service, the MTA is also considering creating a reservation system for seats on the city's subways and buses to limit crowds.
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NYC subway shuts down for first time in history; see the COVID-19 disinfection plan in action

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

May 6, 2020

NYC subway shuts down for first time in history; see the COVID-19 disinfection plan in action

By Devin Gannon

For the first time in its 115-year history, the New York City subway system shut down overnight on Wednesday. The closure, which will occur daily from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., is part of a new plan to disinfect every car and station to stop the spread of the coronavirus and protect essential workers. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is increasing bus service to serve essential workers, adding 344 buses to the current 235 that run during that early morning time frame. For-hire car service will also be offered to employees who are unable to use the bus for their commutes.
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In response to COVID homeless crisis, MTA bans wheeled carts and enacts one-hour subway limit

Photo by Joey via Flickr cc

April 30, 2020

In response to COVID homeless crisis, MTA bans wheeled carts and enacts one-hour subway limit

By Dana Schulz

When the Daily News shared a photo of a homeless New Yorker on a subway car earlier this week, it drew much attention all the way up to Governor Cuomo. Yesterday, the governor called on the MTA to create a plan to solve the issue. In response, the MTA released a plan today that deals with three main points-- no person is permitted to remain in a station for more than an hour; during a public health emergency, no person can remain on a train or the platform after an announcement that the train is being taken out of service; and wheeled carts greater than 30 inches in length or width are banned.
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NYC subways will shut down from 1am-5am for nightly cleanings

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

April 30, 2020

NYC subways will shut down from 1am-5am for nightly cleanings

By Dana Schulz

After Governor Cuomo asked the MTA to step up its subway disinfecting schedule from every 72 to 24 hours, the agency came back with what it's calling the "Essential Connector Program." This initiative will stop service from 1:00am to 5:00am every night during the pandemic, starting Wednesday, May 6. New York City is one of the few cities in the entire world (and the only one in the U.S.) that has a public transit system that runs 24/7, but the governor has said that it is the city and state's responsibility to disinfect more frequently in order to keep our essential workers safe and ensure that they feel comfortable riding the subway.
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