Nyc Subway

MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year

Photo by Mr.TinMD on Flickr

March 20, 2025

MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year

By Aaron Ginsburg

After more than three decades of service, the MetroCard is nearing its final ride. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the final day for MetroCard sales will be December 31, another step toward the full transition to the OMNY tap-and-go payment system. Retail partners, including bodegas and drugstores, will stop selling MetroCards this fall. Riders will still be able to pay with their MetroCards through 2026, with the MTA set to announce that end date at a later time.
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Trump administration threatens to withhold MTA funds over transit safety

Credit: Jenna Day on Unsplash

March 19, 2025

Trump administration threatens to withhold MTA funds over transit safety

By Aaron Ginsburg

President Donald Trump's administration threatened to withhold federal funding for the New York City transit system unless the Metropolitan Transportation Authority submits a plan addressing transit safety. In a letter sent to the MTA on Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged Chair & CEO Janno Lieber to provide a detailed plan to reduce crime, combat violence against transit workers, minimize injuries and fatalities from suicide events and subway surfing, and address fare evasion. In response, transit officials pointed to publicly available data that shows major crimes trending down this year.
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MTA to host open houses for Interborough Express

Image courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

March 18, 2025

MTA to host open houses for Interborough Express

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers, here's your chance to learn more and ask questions about the Interborough Express (IBX) train line, a proposed project to connect Brooklyn and Queens by public transit. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced on Friday that it will host open houses to share information and answer questions about the IBX project. The first open house takes place at the Queens Public Library in Ridgewood on March 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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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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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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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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Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 15, 2025

Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train

By Aaron Ginsburg

A uniformed police officer would be on every subway train between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. under a proposal introduced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday. During her State of the State address, the governor proposed new safety measures for the subway, including increased NYPD patrols, new protective barriers on platforms, modern fare gates, and expansion of mental health resources. Two officers will be on patrol overnight every night for six months on each train; according to Politico, the state will cover the cost.
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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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NYC to add 200 more NYPD officers to subway

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 7, 2025

NYC to add 200 more NYPD officers to subway

By Aaron Ginsburg

While crime in New York City dropped by three percent in 2024, city officials are adding 200 police officers to the subway system following a series of high-profile incidents. In a Monday press conference, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the move, aimed at making riders feel safe after a string of shocking crimes, including the death of a woman who was set on fire in Brooklyn last month. While the mayor argues that positive crime statistics have been overshadowed by high-profile incidents, he said the administration's priority is to now make New Yorkers feel safe.
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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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Holiday nostalgia rides on vintage NYC subway cars are back this December

Holiday Nostalgia Train at 2nd Avenue station. Photo courtesy of New York Transit Museum.

November 20, 2024

Holiday nostalgia rides on vintage NYC subway cars are back this December

By Aaron Ginsburg

Step back in time and embark on a festive journey aboard an old-school New York City subway car this holiday season. The New York Transit Museum's beloved Holiday Nostalgia Rides, which includes eight cars from the 1930s that ran along lettered lines through the late 1970s, will run every Sunday in December from 2nd Avenue on the uptown F platform and 96th Street on the downtown Q platform.
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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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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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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

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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Celebrate 120 years of the NYC subway with a new exhibit and vintage train rides

60th Street Tunnel connection opening, 1955. New York Transit Museum NYCTA Photograph Unit Collection, 2005.48.270

September 16, 2024

Celebrate 120 years of the NYC subway with a new exhibit and vintage train rides

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York Transit Museum is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the city's subway system with a new exhibit and vintage train rides. Debuting September 26, "The Subway Is..." explores how New York City's subway system has shaped its cultural identity and will showcase images and artifacts from the museum's collections. To coincide with the new exhibit, the museum is hosting four Inaugural Run Nostalgia Rides on vintage Lo-V subway cars from 1917, retracing the original route of NYC's first subway line.
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Grand Central-Times Square shuttle gets full cell service

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

September 5, 2024

Grand Central-Times Square shuttle gets full cell service

By Aaron Ginsburg

The shuttle connecting Grand Central Terminal and Times Square now has full cell service. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday announced the installation of 5G wireless service on the 42nd Street Shuttle line, marking the MTA's first step in adding connectivity to all 418 track miles of subway tunnels. The new service, made possible through a public-private partnership with Boldyn Network, allows Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile customers to take a phone call or browse the internet while traveling between the two stations.
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G train resumes full service after summer shutdown

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

September 3, 2024

G train resumes full service after summer shutdown

By Devin Gannon

After a summer-long shutdown, the G train is back. Tuesday marked the first morning of full service on the G train since the end of June, ending a nine-week partial closure of the 11.4-mile line. During the shutdown, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority replaced 1930s-era signal infrastructure with communications-based train control (CBTC), allowing trains to run closer together, improving the reliability and efficiency of the line.
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Transit

Second Avenue Subway work resumes after Hochul allocates $54M

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

July 30, 2024

Second Avenue Subway work resumes after Hochul allocates $54M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday allocated $54 million to immediately restart work on the Second Avenue Subway extension, which will bring the Q train from 96th Street to 125th Street in East Harlem. The new funding allows the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to relocate utility lines along Second Avenue in preparation for the next phase of the transit project. The MTA stopped work on the project last month after the governor indefinitely paused the start of congestion pricing; the $1 billion in projected annual revenue from the program was intended to fund the project.
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MTA boosts weekend subway service to Rockaway Beach

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

July 3, 2024

MTA boosts weekend subway service to Rockaway Beach

By Devin Gannon

Getting to the beach without a car will be a little easier this summer. Service will expand on the Rockaway Park Shuttle on weekends, allowing beachgoers to board any A train and get a transfer to Rockaway Beach, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced. On Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, the shuttle will also operate with 10 cars, doubling its normal capacity.
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Transit

Mosaics reflecting intimacy of NYC public life installed at Williamsburg subway station

Personal Choice #5 (2023) © Chloë Bass, NYCT Lorimer St Station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design. Photo: Nicholas Knight.

June 17, 2024

Mosaics reflecting intimacy of NYC public life installed at Williamsburg subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled two new mosaics in a Williamsburg subway station that reflect on the human connections of language and touch experienced throughout New York City's diverse communities. Fabricated by Miotto Mosaic Art Studios, Jackie Chang's "Signs of Life" and Chloë Bass' "Personal Choice #5" were installed throughout the Metropolitan Avenue/ Lorimer Street station in conjunction with new accessibility upgrades, including new stairs and elevators.
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